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PUBLICATIONS 

OF   THE 

NAVY   RECORDS  SOCIETY 

Vol.  XXXIII. 


Naval  Songs  and  Ballads 


to  5 


^iatial  ^ongs  anb  Vallate 


£ 


■o* 


^3 


-.• 


SELECTED   AND   EDITED    BY 

C.    H.    FIRTH,    M.A, 


(k) 


<4 


KF'-IL'S 


PROFESSOR   OF    MODERN    HISTORY,  OXFORD 


78 


PRINTED   FOR   THE   NAVY    RECORDS   SOCIETY 
MDCCCCVIII 


Ihh) 
in 


THE  COUNCIL 


OF    THK 


NAVY    RECORDS    SOCIETY 

19O/-I908 


PATRON 
H.R.H.  THE  PRINCE  OF  WALES,  K.G.,  K.T.,  K.P. 

PRESIDENT 
EARL  SPENCER,  K.G. 

VICE-PRESIDENTS 


Bridge,  Admiral  Sir  Cyprian 

A.  G.,  G.C.B. 
Clarke,  Col.  Sir  George  S., 

G.C.M.G.,F.R.S. 


Desart, 
K.C.B 


The        Earl        of 
Firth,  Professor  C.  EL,  LL.D. 


COUNCILLORS 


Atkinson,  C.  T. 

Corrett,  Julian  S. 
Dartmouth,  The  Earl  of. 

Fanshawe,        Admiral        Sir 

Arthur,  K.C.B. 
Field,    Captain   A.    M.,    R.N., 

F.R.S. 
Geary,     Lieut. -General     Sir 

Henry,  K.C.B. 
Ginsburg,  B.  W.,  LL.D. 
Godley,  Sir  Arthur,  K.C.B. 
Gordon,  The  Hon.  George. 
Gray,  Albert,  K.C. 

Hordern,  Lieutenant  Lionel, 
R.N. 

Loraine,     Rear-Admiral     Sir 

Lambton,  Bart. 
Maricham,  Admiral  Sir  Albert 

H.,  K.C.B. 


Sir 


May,        Vice-Admiral 
William,  K.C.B. 

Mowatt,  Sir  Francis,  G.C.B. 

Newbolt,  Henry. 

Prothero,      G.      W.,     Litt.D., 
LL.D. 

Seymour,     Admiral     of    the 
Fleet  Sir  Edward  H.,  G.C.B. 

Tarleton,  Lieutenant  A.  II., 
R.N.,  M.V.O. 

Thursfield,  J.  R. 

Watts,     Sir     Philip,      D.Sc, 
K.C.B.,  F.R.S. 

White,    Commander  J.    Bell, 
R.N.R. 

White,  Sir  William  H.,  D.Sc, 
K.C.B.,  F.R.S. 

Yorke,  Sir  Henry,  K.C.B. 


SECRETARY 
Sir  J.  Knox  Laughton,  D.Liu.,  King's  College,  London,  W.C. 

TREASURER 
W.  Graham  Greene,  C.B.,  Admiralty,  S.W. 


The  Council  of  the  Navy  Records  Society  wish 
it  to  be  distinctly  understood  that  they  are  not  answer- 
able for  any  opinions  or  observations  that  may  appear 
in  the  Society's  publications.  For  these  the  responsi- 
bility rests  entirely  with  the  Editors  of  the  several  works. 


INTRODUCTION 


The  object  of  this  volume  is  to  bring  together  a  col- 
lection of  ballads  illustrating  the  history  of  the  British 
navy  from  the  sixteenth  to  the  middle  of  the  nine- 
teenth century.  At  every  period  since  the  invention 
of  printing  the  exploits  of  English  sailors  found  some- 
one to  celebrate  them  in  verse.  They  never  wanted 
a  vates  sacer  of  some  kind  or  another,  from  the  poet 
who  preferred  to  give  them  immortality  in  elaborate 
verses,  to  the  ballad-writer  whose  rough-hewn  lines 
were  merely  intended  to  convey  to  the  people  the 
news  of  the  day,  or  to  represent  what  the  people 
felt  at  the  moment.  It  is  to  the  last  class  of  com- 
position that  the  pieces  here  reprinted  belong. 
They  have  a  certain  limited  historical  value. 
Though  the  details  which  they  have  preserved 
cannot  be  implicitly  trusted,  they  often  contain  an 
element  of  truth,  and  it  is  part  of  the  business  of 
the  historian  to  sift  this  out.  Their  evidence  may 
not  be  evidence  of  the  highest  value,  but  should 
not  be  entirely  neglected.  They  tell  historians 
what  was  felt  and  what  was  believed  by  those  who 
wrote  the  ballads  and  those  who  bought  them,  show 
how  public  opinion  was  formed,  and  help  to  explain 
the  growth  of  popular  traditions. 

Besides  this,  the  ballads  describe  with  singular 
vividness  and  realism  certain  aspects  of  maritime 
life,  and  supply  a  life  and  colour  which  is  lacking 
in    formal    records    of   administration    and    official 


viii  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

letters.  They  enable  the  historian  to  complete 
his  picture  and  vivify  his  narrative,  and  the  ordinary 
reader  to  realise  the  life  of  the  past. 

Of  the    ballads  here  reprinted  a  great    number 
were  the  production  of  professional  composers   of 
ballads    who   had    no    direct   connection   with   the 
navy,    and  no  part  in  the    events    they  described. 
In    the    sixteenth    and    seventeenth    centuries    the 
ballad  filled  the  place  which  the  cheap  newspaper 
fills  now,  and   professional  writers  put  the  stirring 
incidents  of  the  day  into  verse  for  the  information 
of  the  people  as  naturally  as  the  modern  journalist 
puts  them  into  prose.     Most  of  the  older  narrative 
ballads  are   of  this  class :    for  instance,    Deloney's 
verses  on    the  capture  of  the  Great  Galeazzo  and 
the  taking  of  Cadiz.     Often  the  ballad  was  simply 
an  adaptation    of  a  prose  pamphlet   on    the    same 
subject.        In     the     registers    of    the     Stationers' 
Company  for   the   late   sixteenth  and  early  seven- 
teenth  century  there   are  many  examples    of  this. 
For    instance,   on    May   15,    1579,  Andrew  White, 
a    bookseller,    entered    as    his    copyright    a    prose 
pamphlet  relating    The  Wonder/til  Victory  obtained 
by  the  Centurion  of  London  against  Five  Spanish 
Gallies,  and  on  the  same  day  registers  '  a  ballad  of 
the    same    victory.'     (Arber,    Stationers'  Registers, 
ii.   274  b.)     Often    a    bookseller   entering   a   prose 
narrative  of  this  kind  provided,  at  the  same  time, 
for  securing  the  copyright  of  a  ballad  version  which 
had  not  yet  been  written,  just  as  a  modern  author 
reserves  the  right  of  dramatising  a  new  novel.      If 
this  was  not  done  some  rival  publisher  or  bookseller 
seized  the    opportunity,    produced  a  ballad  on  the 
incident  of  the  moment,  and  spoilt  the  sale  of  the 
original  narrative  (ib.  ii.  162-3,   261-2).      Not  only 
incidents    in    naval  history,    but    stories  and    items 
of  news  of  every  kind    were  treated    in   the   same 


INTRODUCTION  ix 

fashion,  and  to  this  practice  we  owe  a  number  of 
prosaic  ballads  on  every  possible  subject.  The 
best  of  the  professional  ballad-writers  did  not  limit 
themselves  to  the  versification  of  actual  events,  but 
went  further  and  embodied  in  verse  their  conception 
of  the  dangers  and  pleasures  of  sailors  and  of 
typical  incidents  of  seafaring  life.  Martin  Parker's 
Saylors  for  my  Money  is  a  typical  example 
of  this,  and  such  compositions  form  the  staple  of 
most  collections  of  naval  ballads,  probably  because 
their  more  general  character  and  their  greater  merit 
gave  them  wider  popularity  and  a  longer  life. 

Another  class  of  ballads  consists  of  those  written 
by  sailors  themselves  to  describe  actions  in  which 
they  had  taken  part.  A  ballad  was  not  a  difficult 
thing  to  write;  the  metre  was  usually  simple,  the 
rules  about  rhyme  not  exacting,  and  the  traditional 
formulas  and  phrases  to  be  employed  were  familiar. 
Hence  it  is  not  surprising  that  sailors,  and  occasion- 
ally officers,  sometimes  undertook  to  celebrate  the 
exploits  of  the  ships  in  which  they  served.  Such 
ballads  were  produced  in  considerable  frequency  in 
the  eighteenth  century,  and  even  early  in  the  nine- 
teenth, and  some  specimens  are  reprinted  in  this 
volume.  One  written  by  a  seaman  on  board  the 
Burford,  Vernon's  flagship,  describes  the  capture  of 
Portobello  ;  a  second,  written  on  board  the  flagship 
of  Admiral  Mathews,  relates  his  battle  off  Toulon  ; 
a  third,  by  a  lieutenant  of  the  Bellerophon,  celebrates 
Howe's  victory  on  the  first  of  June,  and  is  said  to 
have  been  actually  sung  in  the  gun-room  of  the 
Bellerophon  (pp.  177,  186,  271).  In  some  cases  the 
ai  thor  reveals  himself  in  the  last  lines  of  the  ballad. 

'  I    \m    a    saucy   foremast   Jack,    and    to   the   Arrow   do 
belong,' 

say;   the  writer  of  one  upon  a  sloop  of  that  name. 


^ 

— 

x  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Another  on  the   Robin    Hood  privateer  concludes 
defiantly  : 

'  My  name  is  George  Cook,  the  author  of  this, 
And  he  may  be  hang'd  that  will  take  it  amiss.' 

A  third,  which  narrates  the  escape  of  the 
Princess  Royal  from  being  wrecked  on  the  Good- 
win Sands,  ends  by  suggesting  that  the  poet  should 
be  rewarded  for  his  pains  : 

'  It  was  a  brisk  young  sailor  that  these  lines  did  make, 
And  over  a  can  of  flip  his  heart  would  never  ache.' 

(Pp.  290,  267,  191.) 

There  are  many  other  ballads  in  which  it  is 
obvious  that  the  writer  was  personally  concerned 
in  the  incidents  which  form  the  subject  of  his  verses, 
although  no  explicit  avowal  is  actually  made. 

Finally  there  is  yet  a  third  class  of  ballads, 
neither  written  by  professional  ballad-writers,  nor  by 
sailors  themselves,  but  by  professional  men  of 
letters.  The  popularity  of  the  ballad  induced 
writers  to  adopt  that  form  of  composition  in  order 
to  catch  the  ear  of  the  multitude.  Hence  a  con- 
siderable number  of  satirical  compositions  cast  in  that 
mould,  such  as  the  verses  against  Torrington  and 
Byng,  given  on  pp.  no,  206  of  this  volume,  and 
other  pieces  written  with  a  direct  political  purpose. 
The  typical  specimen  of  this  class  of  ballad  is 
Hosier  s  Ghost,  by  Richard  Glover,  a  professional 
poet  who  had  already  published  a  blank  verse  epic, 
and  treated  this  subject  in  the  fashion  most  likely 
to  appeal  to  the  multitude  in  order  to  secure  their 
support  for  the  attack  on  Walpole's  foreign  policy. 
Other  professional  authors,  too,  without  any  political 
object  to  serve,  adopted  the  same  form  because  they 
perceived  that  the  sailor  was  a  popular  topic,  and 
that  his  perils,  his  loves  and  his  diversions,  afforded 


INTRODUCTION  xi 

good  material  for  verse,  if  they  were  treated  on  the 
traditional  lines.  Dibdin  was  anticipated  by  Gay 
and  Stevens,  and  many  others  whom  the  world 
has  forgotten.  But  whatever  popularity  they 
attained  in  their  own  day,  their  productions  have 
no  claim  to  inclusion  in  these  pages,  for  they  merely 
represent  a  literary  fashion,  and  are  too  artificial  to 
possess  any  value  for  historical  purposes.  More- 
over the  best  of  them  are  so  well  known  that  it  is 
unnecessary  to  reprint  them,  but  two  or  three  early 
examples  have  been  inserted  in  order  to  show  when 
this  species  of  naval  verse  began  to  appear  and  how 
it  originated.  It  has  also  seemed  needful  to  give 
incidentally  some  brief  account  of  the  poetical  litera- 
ture which  illustrates  various  periods  in  the  history 
of  the  growth  of  English  sea-power. 

The  earliest  celebrations  of  the  exploits  of  the 
navy  came  from  the  pen  of  a  professional  poet, 
Laurence  Minot.  His  works,  first  discovered  by 
Thomas  Tyrwhitt,  were  published  by  Joseph  Rit- 
son  in  1795  under  the  title  of  Poems  on  Interest- 
ing Events  in  the  reign  of  King  Edward  III., 
written  in  the  year  1352  by  Laurence  Minot.  The 
most  accessible  edition  is  that  of  Mr.  Joseph  Hall, 
published  by  the  Clarendon  Press  in  1887.  Of  the 
eleven  poems  which  Minot  devotes  to  the  occur- 
rences of  King  Edward's  reign,  two  narrate  naval 
victories.  The  fifth  recounts  the  fight  with  the 
French  at  Sluys  on  June  24,  1340;  the  tenth  de- 
scribes the  battle  known  as  Les  Espagnols  sur  Mer, 
which  took  place  off  Winchelsea  on  August  29, 
1350.  Directly,  the  historical  value  of  the  two 
poems  is  small.  Indirectly,  they  are  valuable  as 
illustrating  the  spirit  of  the  time  and  the  methods 
of  naval  warfare  in  the  fourteenth  century.  '  The 
battles  on  the  sea,'  writes  Froissart,  '  are  more  dan- 
gerous and  fiercer  than  the  battles  by  land  :  for  on 


xii  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

the  sea  there  is  no  recoiling  nor  fleeing  ;  there  is 
no  remedy  but  to  fight  and  to  abide  fortune,  and 
every  man  to  show  his  prowess'  (Chapter  L.) 
There  was  no  pity  for  the  defeated,  and  prisoners 
were  thrown  overboard.  One  ballad  exultantly 
records  that  '  the  caityffs  come  out  of  France  were 
taught  to  swim,'  the  other,  that  the  Spaniards  'sail 
in  the  sea-ground  fishes  to  feed.'  A  similar  spirit 
reappears  in  some  of  the  seventeenth  century 
ballads. 

The  fifteenth  century  is  represented  in  this 
collection  by  a  nautical  ballad  describing  a  pilgrim- 
age to  St.  James  at  Compostella,  which  was  prob- 
ably written  during  the  reign  of  Henry  VI.  Its 
interest  lies  in  its  description  of  life  on  board  ship, 
and  in  the  number  of  naval  terms  and  phrases  it 
preserves.  '  The  song,'  says  Sir  Cyprian  Bridge, 
4  is  most  likely  the  composition  of  a  sailor  on  board 
what  was  certainly  a  merchant  vessel,  and  one  of 
its  subjects — for  it  portrays  seamen's  life  as  well — 
is  that  which  always  was,  and  perhaps  is,  a  matter 
of  unfailing  interest  and  amusement  to  sailors,  viz., 
the  miseries  of  landsmen  afloat  in  rough  weather ' 
(Stone,  p.  196).  The  period  furnished  few  warlike 
exploits  to  celebrate,  but  a  fight  off  Harfleur  in 
August  14 1 6,  in  which  the  Duke  of  Bedford  de- 
feated the  Genoese  caracks  in  the  service  of  France, 
was  sufficiently  famous  to  be  commemorated  at 
length  in  Hardy ng's  rhymed  Chronicle,  and  to  be 
recorded  in  the  verse  tract  called  the  Libel  of 
English  Policy.  Both  passages  are  reprinted  by 
Sir  Harris  Nicholas  [History  of  the  Royal  Navy, 
ii.  421,  424).  The  Libel  of  English  Policy,  written 
during  the  reign  of  Henry  VI.,  laments  the  decay 
of  the  navy,  and  the  neglect  to  guard  the  seas. 
Hakluyt,  who  reprinted  the  poem  in  his  Voyages, 
described  it  as  '  exhorting  all  England  to  keep  the 


INTRODUCTION  xiii 

sea,  and  namely  the  narrow  sea ;  showing  what 
profit  cometh  thereof,  and  also  what  worship  and 
salvation  to  England,  and  to  all  English  men.' 
(The  Principal  Navigations,  etc.,  of  the  EnglisJi 
Nation,  vol.  ii.  p.  114,  ed.  1903;  the  Libel  is  also 
reprinted  in  Thomas  Wright's  Political  Poems  and 
Songs  relating  to  English  History,  1861,  ii.  157). 
It  sets  forth  also  the  consequences  of  forgetting  to 
guard  the  seas,  and  the  damage  which  English  com- 
merce suffered  from  the  pirates  who  were  allowed 
to  prey  upon  it  unchecked.  Of  these  the  Bretons, 
especially  the  men  of  St.  Malo,  and  the  Flemings 
were  the  chief,  and  two  particular  pirates,  Hankyn 
Lyons  and  Pety  Pynson,  are  mentioned  by  name. 
Throughout  the  fifteenth  century,  and  indeed  until 
the  close  of  the  sixteenth,  the  Channel  and  the 
British  seas  in  general  were  infested  by  pirates. 
There  were  Italian  pirates  as  well  as  Bretons.  In 
a  ballad  which  gives  a  legendary  history  of  the 
overthrow  of  Richard  III.,  a  messenger  is  sent  by 
Lord  Stanley  to  Henry  Tudor  with  money  for  the 
intended  expedition  to  England.  The  great  danger 
the  messenger  fears  is  the  galleys  of  the  Italian 
pirates. 

'  They  will  me  rob,  they  will  me  drown, 
They  will  take  the  gold  from  me.' 

(The  most  pleasant  Song  of  Lady  Bessy,  edited  by 
J.  O.  Halliwell,  Percy  Society,  1847,  PP-  27>  64). 
The  popular  ballad  entitled  John  Dory,  which  first 
appeared  in  print  in  1609,  seems  to  embody 
some  tradition  of  the  fights  with  Italian  pirates,  or 
perhaps  of  some  earlier  battle  with  Italian  sailors 
in  French  service  such  as  that  of  141 6.  The  longer 
ballad,  narrating  Sir  Edward  Howard's  battle 
with  Sir  Andrew  Barton,  printed  on  pages  6-15, 
describes  an  historical  event  which    took    place  in 


xiv  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

151 1,  and  is  recorded  by  John  Lesley,  Bishop  of 
Ross,  in  his  Chronicle.  The  details  embody 
popular  tradition  rather  than  facts.  The  version 
of  the  ballad  printed  here  is  a  sixteenth  century 
version  preserved  in  Bishop  Percy's  MS.  It  was 
partially  rewritten  and  adorned  with  various 
rhetorical  additions  by  some  seventeenth  century 
writer.     This  late  version,  which  begins, 

'  When  Flora  with  her  fragrant  flowers 
Bedeckt  the  earth  so  trim  and  gay,' 

is  reprinted  in  Stone's  Sea  Songs  and  Ballads  (p.  64), 
where  there  may  also  be  found  a  still  later  echo  of 
the  original  ballad,  entitled  Henry  Marten  (p.  72). 

These  few  ballads  and  poems  comprise  all  the 
verse  literature  in  existence  touching  the  naval 
history  of  the  period  which  preceded  the  accession 
of  Elizabeth.  With  her  reign  the  literature  of  the 
subject  at  once  assumes  considerable  proportions. 
Mr.  Julian  Corbett  goes  too  far  when  he  says  '  It  is 
one  of  the  remarkable  features  of  the  Elizabethan 
age  that  its  higher  literature  displays  hardly  a 
trace  of  having  been  influenced  by  the  exploits  of 
the  seamen.'  [Drake  and  the  Tudor  Navy,  ii.  44.) 
On  the  contrary  Professor  Raleigh  shows  con- 
clusively, in  his  introduction  to  the  recent  reprint  of 
Hakluyt,  the  extent  to  which  the  voyages  and  dis- 
coveries of  that  time  influenced  the  imagination 
of  contemporary  poets.  Writers  by  profession, 
whether  they  wrote  for  a  learned  audience  or  the 
people,  began  to  discover  that  the  character  of  the 
great  seamen  of  the  time  furnished  a  popular  topic 
for  panegyric,  and  to  celebrate  their  deeds  in  verse. 
William  Warner  inserted  in  his  Albion  s  England 
a  spirited  description  of  the  fight  with  the  Armada, 
and  a  passage  in  praise  of  'world-admired  Drake,' 
'his  brave  breeder  Hawkins 'and  others  of  less  note. 


INTRODUCTION  xv 

It  was  to  be  wished,  he  suggested,  that  some  better 
poet  than  himself  should  write  '  their  glorious 
journeys '  and  give  them  the  immortality  they 
deserved,  for  they  would  make  '  immortal  pen- 
work.' 

Drake  had  already  been  the  subject  of  two 
poems.  In  1587  one  Thomas  Greepe  published 
The  true  and  perfect  news  of  the  worthy  and  valiant 
Exploits  of  Sir  Francis  Drake,  which  contained, 
in  very  halting  verse,  an  account  of  the  taking  of 
Cartagena.  In  1596  Charles  Fitzgeffrey,  poet  and 
divine,  published  Sir  Francis  Drake  his  honourable 
Life's  Commendation  and  his  tragical  Death's 
Lamentation.  In  this  elaborate  and  rhetorical 
poem  '  that  high  towering  falcon,'  as  an  Elizabethan 
critic  calls  Fitzgeffrey,  celebrated  not  only  Drake, 
but  Drake's  predecessors  from  Cabot  to  Hawkins. 
In  like  manner  Gervase  Markham  devoted  a  poem 
of  1,400  lines  to  The  Most  Honourable  Tragedy  of 
Sir  Richard  Grinvile,  Knight,  which  appeared  in 
in  1595  (reprinted  by  Dr.  E.  Arber  in  1877 
under  the  title  of  The  Last  Fight  of  the  Revenge). 
There  is  also  extant  a  poem  In  Praise  of  Seafaring 
Men,  in  Hope  of  Good  Fortune,  which  bears  the 
alternative  title  of  Sir  Richard  Grenfilldes  Fare- 
well, referring  apparently  to  Greynvile's  voyage 
of  discovery  in  1585.  It  is  reprinted  by  Halliwell 
in  his  Early  Naval  Ballads  (p.  14)  and  by  Stone, 
Sea  Songs  (p.  5). 

A  number  of  minor  poems  also  deserve  mention. 
There  is,  for  instance,  John  Kirkham's  Conwtendahon 
of  Martin  Frobisher  (printed  in  Halliwell  p.  45), 
another  by  Thomas  Ellis  [Ballads  from  Manuscript, 
ii.  282),  and  there  are  others  by  Thomas  Church- 
yard (Collier,  Extracts  from  the  Registers  of  the 
Stationers'  Company,  ii.  47,  51).  Better  known  is 
George  Peek's  Farewell  to  the  most  famous  Generals 


xvi  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

Sir  John  Norris  and  Sir  Francis  Drake,  Knights, 
which  refers  to  their  expedition  to  Portugal  in  1589 
(Peel's  Works,  ed.  Bullen,  ii.  233).  One  might 
mention  also  Donne's  two  poems  The  Storm  and 
The  Calm,  both  expressly  said  to  refer  to  '  The 
Island  voyage  with  the  Earl  of  Essex,'  i.e.  the 
expedition  to  the  Azores  in  1597  (Donne's  Works, 
ed.  Grosart,  ii,  3-10).  Last  of  all,  and  best,  there 
is  Drayton's  Ode  to  the  Virginia  Voyage  (Poems, 
1627,  p.  295). 

The  surprising  thing  is  not  the  paucity  of  literary 
references  to  the  exploits  of  the  Elizabethan  seamen, 
which  were  generally,  if  inadequately,  commemorated, 
but  the  limited  number  of  songs  and  ballads  on  the 
subject  which  have  reached  us.  The  popular  litera- 
ture of  the  period  was  very  extensive  in  amount  and 
very  diverse  in  character.  The  registers  of  the 
Stationers'  Company  for  the  reign  of  Elizabeth  con- 
tain very  numerous  entries  of  ballads  which  deal 
with  the  incidents  of  the  day  or  with  aspects  of  the 
life  of  the  time.  Few  of  them,  comparatively,  deal 
with  sailors  or  seafaring  matters,  and  of  those  many 
have  perished.  There  was  a  famous  ballad  entitled 
Row  well,  ye  mariners,  registered  in  1566,  which 
was  sufficiently  popular  to  be  '  moralised '  two  or 
three  times  over — that  is,  converted  into  a  spiritual 
song  of  an  allegorical  nature  (Collier,  Extracts 
from  the  Registers  of  the  Stationers  Company, 
i.  130,  161,  175).  The  words  are  lost,  though 
the  tune  has  survived  {Old  English  Popular  Music 
by  W.  Chappell,  ed.  1893,  L  I27)-  Lost,  too,  are 
The  Sailors  Nezu  Tantara,  published  in  1584,  a 
ballad  In  Praise  of  the  Queens  Ships  (beginning  '  O 
the  Elizabeth  Jonas')  published  in  1586,  The  Sailors 
Joy,  published  in  1595,  and  A  true  Sailors  Song 
against  Spanish  Pride  that  appeared  in  1590  (Arber, 
Registers  of  the  Stationers    Company,  iii.   200,  210, 


INTRODUCTION  xvii 

254-  3l7)-  Of  tne  ballads  which  described  life  at 
sea  several  can  be  traced.  One  on  '  the  perilous 
pains  of  poor  mariners'  was  licensed  on  October  13, 
1579,  and  another  on  March  10,  1582,  concerning 
1  the  danger  of  sailors  and  their  troubles,  turmoil, 
and  pain  '  (Arber,  ii.  164,  187).  One  of  these  is 
perhaps  the  Ballad  of  Sea  Fardingers  Describing 

I  Fortune  (Halliwell,  p.  16;  Stone,  p.  6  ; 
Masefield,  p.  145),  or  possibly  that  beginning,  '  I  rue 
to  see  the  raging  of  the  seas'  (Halliwell,  p.  79; 
Stone,  p.  8;  Collier,  ii.  159).  Fate  has  happily- 
preserved  a  single  damaged  copy  of  the  comedy 
called  Common  Conditions,  printed  probably  about 
1576,  containing  a  song  sung  by  pirates,  which  is 
printed  on  p.  17  of  the  present  volume. 

Amongst  the  lost  ballads  are  a  certain  number 
relating  to  piracy,  and  recording  the  punishment  of 
some  Englishmen  who  practised  that  trade.  On 
December  19,  1579,  there  was  licensed  The  Fatal 
Farewell  of  Captain  Gilbert  Horse  ley,  who  managed 
to  escape  from  the  Counter,  the  prison  in  which  he 
was  confined,  '  in  a  cloakbag,'  but  was  recaptured 
and  executed.  Another,  licensed  March  16,  1580, 
was  entitled — 

'  A  Passport  for  Pirates  wherein  they  may  mark 
And  shun  their  abuse  by  the  death  of  Tom  Clarke.' 

A  third,  published  in  August  1583,  was  styled 
Clintons  Lamentation  and  a  fourth,  in  1586,  called 
The  Confession  of  Nine  Rovers  (Arber,  Stationers' 
Registers,  ii.  165,  167,  197,  210). 

As  a  substitute  for  these  ballads,  however, 
there  has  been  preserved  an  elaborate  poem  pur- 
porting to  be  the  confession  of  Clinton  and  two 
others,  which  is  to  be  found  in  the  Bodleian  and 
Lambeth  libraries.  It  is  headed  Clinton,  Purser 
and    Arnold,     to    their    countryme?i,     wheresoever. 

a 


xviii  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Wherein  is  described  by  their  ozvn  hands  their 
unfeigned  penitence  for  their  offences  past,  their 
patience  in  welcoming  their  death,  and  their  dutiful 
minds  toivards  her  Majesty.  Their  apology  for 
their  acts  is  that  they  only  attacked  foreign  ships 
and  '  never  made  one  English  prey.' 

Comparatively  few  of  the  ballads  of  the  Eliza- 
bethan period  relate  to  voyages  of  discpvery ; 
plunder  and  fighting  were  more  attractive  subjects 
to  the  audience  for  which  they  were  intended. 
There  is,  however,  A  Commendation  of  the  adven- 
turous Viage  of  the  worthy  Captain  M.  Thomas 
Stutely  Esquire  and  others  toivards  the  land  called 
Terra  Florida,  which  appeared  in  1563  (Collier, 
Old  Ballads  from  Early  Printed  Copies,  Percy 
Society,  1840,  p.  72).  Of  another  on  the  same 
subject,  dated  two  years  earlier,  made  by  one  beynge 
greatly  impoverished  by  the  viage  prepared  for  Terra 
Floryday,  only  a  fragment  has  survived.  Thomas 
Cavendish's  circumnavigation  of  the  world  was 
too  remarkable  a  feat  to  escape  attention,  and  in 
November  1583  two  ballads  upon  the  subject 
appeared.  One  was  entitled  A  ballad  of  Master 
Cavendish  his  voyage,  who  by  travel  compassed  the 
globe  of  the  world  arriving  in  England  with 
abundance  of  treasure ;  the  other  Of  the  famous 
and  honourable  corning  of  Master"  Cavendish 's  ship 
called  the  Desire  before  the  Queens  Majestie  and  her 
court  at  Greenwich  the  12  of  November  1588  (Arber, 
Stationers  Registers,  ii.  236).  Neither  of  these  is 
now  in  existence.  By  a  singular  contrast  Ralegh, 
whose  explorations  and  exploits  deserved  celebra- 
tion, is  only  commemorated  by  the  ballad  Sir 
Walter  Raleigh  Sailing  in  the  Lowlands,  a 
romantic  story  about  a  little  ship-boy  of  which 
several  traditional  versions  exist.  To  a  version 
of  this  which  was  printed  in  the  reign  of  Charles  II., 


INTRODUCTION  xix 

accident,  or  perhaps  the  craftiness  of  the    printer 

S^P*?™*   ?f**l&  (Child,  Enjsk  and 
Scottish  Popular     allads,  v.  135,  reprinted  by  Stone 
Sea  Songs  and  Ballads,  p.  ;4).      fn  much  £?££ 
way  a  ballad,  first  printed  in  the  eighteenth  centurT 
Queen   Elizabeths   Champion   or  ^GreatB^s 
Glory,  commemorates  the  fact  that  the  second  Earl 
of  Essex  once  commanded    Elizabeth's  navy  by  a 
fictitious  account  of  the  capture  of  the  son  of  the 
Emperor  of  Germany  by  the  third  earl  (Child    v 
v45tfe  P-  84'      probably  the  distinction  gained 
b>  the  third  earl  in  the  expedition  to  Cadiz  in  16^ 
originated  the  ballad.  ^ 

The    best    ballad  on  the  defeat  of  the  Soini^h 

thth*  fPy  0btatnmS  of  the  great  Galleon 
which  ,s  printed  on  p.  ,8.  Deloney  also  wrote  one 
on    Tie  strange  and  most  cruell  Whippes  which  the 

fef^  PT'Vd    '°    «**•"*  tonjent 
V*e™*     men     and     women:   winch     were     found 
and  taken  at    the    overthrow    of  certain    of  the 
Spanish    Sh,ppes;^A    another   on    The    O'L     °s 
vtsvhng  oftheCampe  at  Tilburie  with  her  enlrta,. 
nien   tfiere.     Both  may  be  found  in   The  Rornr'L 

rdats  to  the  3   "    ^'   bM  SinC£    neither  -PeciSli; 
relates  to  the  navy  it  was  not  thought  necessarv  to 

trhT'ntKth^-     CMn  Ebsworth>  in  hi*  introdS  to 

te,  '  h3S  ubr°U^ht    to^:her   f°"r   or   five 

ballads  relating  to  the  defeat  of  the  Armada,  written 

ZX  BaTf"  and  QSeV6nteenth  Centuri-  (^ 
a  eft  £  f  A  •'•  i7&-l8il  Three  of  th<™  are 
pp   80-83.  m  S°"*S  and  Ballads> 

f,-rlfThr'  entriefL in„the  Stationers'  Registers  give  the 
tides  of  several  ballads  which  no  longer  survive   viz 
The   Enghsh  prefiaracion  of  the  Spaniards  AW 
gacion  ■     The   late    wonderful  Dystres    which    the 


xx  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Spanishe  Navye  sustayned  yn  the  late  fighte  in  the 
Sea  and  upon  the  West  Coast  of  Ii'eland  in  this 
moneth  of  September  1588  ;  A  Ballad  of  Thanks- 
giving tinto  God  for  his  mercy  toivard  hir  Majestie  ; 
England s  Joy  and  Delight,  In  the  back  Rebound  of 
the  Spanyardes  Spyght. 

There  were  also  ballads  on  the  military  prepara- 
tions and  the  thanksgivings  after  the  victory  which 
have  perished,  and  a  number  of  ballads  relating  the 
exploits  of  squadrons  or  single  ships,  whose  titles 
are  entered  in  the  Stationers'  Registers.  Under 
November  14,  1588,  appears  A  Ditty  of  the  Exploit 
of  the  Earl  of  Cumberland  on  the  Sea  in  October 
1588;  under  August  5,  1590,  a  Ballad  made  tipon 
the  late  Fight  at  Sea  between  two  Ships  of  Dtcnkirk 
and  a  small  Ship  of  80  ton  appertaining  to  the  Earl 
of  Cumberland  (Arber,  ii.  236,  262).  In  July  1590 
there  was  published  A  Ditty  of  the  Fight  upon  the 
seas  the  4  of  June  last  in  the  Straits  of  Jubraltare 
betzveen  the  Geo7^e  and  the  Thomas  Bonaventure 
against  eight  gallies  with  three  Frigates ;  in  May 
1 591  followed  a  tract  and  a  ballad  on  The  wonder- 
ful Victory  obtained  by  the  Centurion  of  London 
against  five  Spanish  Gallies,  the  ^th  of  April  being 
Easter  Day  1591  ;  a  year  later  came  The  Sea?nans 
Carol  for  the  taking  of  the  great  Carack,  and  in  July 
1600  a  ballad  relating  how  certain  Merchants  ships 
of  England  fought  five  Spanish  ships  of  war  in  the 
Straits  of  Gibraltar  on  May  25,  1600  (Arber,  ii. 
262,  274,  293  ;  iii.  62).      None  of  these  survive. 

About  the  beginning  of  the  seventeenth  century 
new  enemies  begin  to  take  the  place  hitherto 
occupied  by  the  Spanards  in  the  ballads.  Piracy 
took  a  new  shape  after  the  close  of  the  war  with 
Spain.  Captain  John  Smith  devotes  the  last  chapter 
of  his  Travels  to  '  The  bad  life  and  qualities,  and 
conditions  of  pirates,  and  how  they  taught  the  Turks 


INTRODUCTION  xxi 

and  Moors  to  become  men  of  war.'  Because  the 
peace  threw  them  out  of  employment,  and  because 
'they  grew  hateful  to  all  Christian  princes,'  they 
retired  to  Barbary,  and  made  its  harbours  their 
headquarters.  Even  before  that  the  Barbary  coast 
was  a  perilous  one  for  richly  laden  merchantmen, 
and  armed  ships  that  met  a  likely  prize  did  not 
always  inquire  whether  their  nations  were  at  war. 
The  ballad  entitled  The  Sailors  Only  Delight  tells 
how  two  English  merchantmen  sailed  for  the  coast 
of  Barbary  (p.  23).  The  Sweepstake  was  taken  by 
a  French  man-of-war,  but  her  consort  the  George- 
Aloe  captured  the  French  ship  later,  and  made  her 
crew  suffer  the  fate  they  had  inflicted  on  the  crew 
of  the  Sweepstake. 

'  We  laid  them  aboard  on  the  starboard  side 
And  threw  them  into  the  sea  so  wide.' 

Two  centuries  before,  Chaucer's  shipman,  who  had 
no  very  scrupulous  conscience,  as  Chaucer  owns, 
used  to  dispose  of  the  crews  of  the  ships  he  took 
in  the  same  fashion. 

■  If  that  he  fought  and  hadde  the  heigher  hand 
By  water  he  sent  hem  hoom  to  every  land.' 

There  are  other  references  to  this  practice  in  early 
seventeenth  century  ballads,  but  it  was  now  be- 
coming confined  to  pirates. 

Some  of  the  English  adventurers  who  took 
shelter  in  the  Barbary  ports  gave  up  their  trade 
after  a  time,  made  their  peace,  and  returned  to 
England :  for  instance,  Sir  Henry  Mainwaring. 
Others  became  renegades  and  ended  their  days 
there.  The  two  most  famous  were  John  Ward  and 
a  Dutchman  called  Simon  Danzer  or  Danseker. 
Two  pamphlets  on  their  misdeeds  were  published 
in    1609,  and    also  a  tragedy  by   Robert    Daborne 


xxii  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

called  A  Christian  turned  Turk  in  1612.  The 
ballads  upon  them  which  are  included  in  this  col- 
lection (pp.  25-31)  were  registered  on  July  3,  1609. 
The  Farnous  Sea-Fight  between  Captain  Ward  and 
the  Rainbow  was  written  after  Ward  was  dead  and 
his  exploits  had  become  legendary,  but  its  popularity 
requires  its  insertion. 

From  Ward,  Danseker,  and  others,  the  native 
seamen  of  the  Barbary  States  learnt  much.  When 
they  established  themselves  there,  says  Captain 
Smith,  '  the  Moors  scarce  knew  how  to  sail  a 
ship  .  .  .  those  were  the  first  that  taught  the 
Moors  to  be  men  of  war.'  Later  still,  after  the 
deaths  of  their  leaders,  the  European  pirates  in 
Barbary  '  became  so  disjointed,  disordered,  de- 
bauched and  miserable,  that  the  Turks  and  Moors 
began  to  command  them  as  slaves,  and  force  them 
to  instruct  them  in  their  best  skill,  which  many  an 
accursed  renegado  or  Christian  turned  Turk  did, 
till  thev  have  made  those  Sallee  men  or  Moors  of 
Barbary  so  powerful  as  they  be  to  the  terror  of  all 
the  Straits,  and  many  times  they  take  purchase  in 
the  main  ocean,  yea,  sometimes  even  in  the  narrow 
seas.' 

A  modern  writer,  accepting  the  view  that  it  was 
in  this  way  the  Barbary  captains  learned  the  new  art 
of  sailing  warships,  points  out  that  the  expulsion  of 
the  Moriscoes  from  Spain  in  1609  led  to  a  further 
result  equally  disastrous.  '  It  led  at  once  to  the 
rise  of  Sallee  as  a  pirate  port,  and  its  launch  upon 
its  sinister  career '  (Corbett,  England  in  the 
Mediteri'anean  i.  10-20).  Year  after  year  the 
losses  of  the  English  merchants  grew  greater,  and 
the  number  of  English  captives  in  Barbary  increased. 
In  1620  James  I.  sent  Sir  Robert  Mansell's  fleet 
against  them,  and  in  May  162 1  Mansell  made  his 
abortive  attack  on  Algiers  (ib.  1 10-133).      In  1624 


INTRODUCTION  xxiii 

there  was  presented  to  the  House  of  Lords  'the 
humble  and  lamentable  complaint  of  above  1,500 
poor  captive  souls,  now  under  the  miserable 
oppression  of  the  Turks  in  Argier,  Tunis,  Sally  and 
Tituane.'  Parliament  ordered  a  general  collection 
throughout  the  whole  of  England  for  the  redemp- 
tion of  the  captives,  and  the  King  issued  letters 
patent  for  that  purpose.  (Lords  Journals,  iii. 
411-13;  Bewes,  Church  Briefs,  p.  117).  The 
verses  entitled,  .  The  lamentable  cries  of  at  least 
1500  Christians,  printed  on  p.  31,  were  evidently 
printed  and  circulated  in  1624,  when  this  general 
collection  was  made.  Beyond  raising  money  in 
this  way  for  ransoming  captives,  James  did  nothing, 
and  nothing  was  done  by  Charles  till  Rainborow 
was  sent  to  Sallee  in  1637.  'The  expedition  of 
1637,  whereby  300  or  400  Englishmen  were 
rescued  from  slavery,  was,  in  design  and  execution, 
the  solitary  success  of  Charles's  naval  administra- 
tion'  (Oppenheim,  The  Administration  of  the  Royal 
Navy,  p.  277).  Though  a  True  journal  of  the 
Sally  Fleet,  with  the  Proceedings  of  the  Voyage, 
written  by  John  Dunton,  mariner,  was  published  in 
1637,  no  ballad  writer  celebrated  the  achievement. 
When  the  reign  of  Charles  I.  began  he  was  at  war 
with  Spain,  and  a  ballad  entitled  The  Honour  of 
Bristol,  better  known  as  The  Angel  Gabriel,  relates 
a  fight  between  a  Bristol  privateer  of  that  name 
and  three  Spanish  ships  (p.  34).  The  ballad  was 
written  by  Laurence  Price  :  the  precise  date  of  its 
publication  is  uncertain  (Roxburghe  Ballads,  vi. 
428).  Neither  Cecil's  expedition  to  Cadiz,  nor 
Buckingham's  to  the  Isle  of  Re,  inspired  anything 
but  satires.  A  short  ballad  by  'a  gentleman 
who  was  present  in  all  that  service '  epitomises 
the  history  of  the  Cadiz  voyage  (ib.  vi.  420). 
References  to  both  may  be  found  in  the  volume  of 


xxiv  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Poems  and  Songs  relating  to  George  Villiers,  Duke 
of  Buckingham,  edited  by  Mr.  Fairholt  for  the 
Percy  Society,  in  1850.  One  ironically  sets  forth 
the  expectations  excited  when  the  Lord  High 
Admiral  put  to  sea  in  1627  : 

'  He'll  cool  France  and  Spain,  and  quiet  the  main, 

The  Dunkirkers  passage  he'll  stop  ; 
To  stay  all  commotion  he'll  plough  up  the  ocean  : 
God  send  him  a  good  harvest  crop  .  .  . 
And  then  he  will  meet  with  the  West  India  fleet, 

And  of  them  will  take  fast  hold, 
And  bring  them  away  for  England  a  prey, 
And  choke  us  with  silver  and  gold. 

(Fairholt,  p.  13.) 

Buckingham's  part  in  the  reorganisation  of  the  navy 
was  forgotten  by  satirists,  but  the  king's  panegyrists 
exaggerated  the  effort  of  Charles  I.  to  strengthen 
the  fleet.  His  attempts  to  assert  the  sovereignty  of 
the  seas  furnished  them  with  a  theme.  Between 
1632  and  1640  Charles  built  about  a  dozen  new 
ships,  eight  of  which  were  a  considerable  size.  The 
greatest  of  them  was  the  Sovereign  of  the  Seas, 
which  was  over  1,500  tons  in  size,  carried  a  hundred 
guns,  cost  40,000/.  to  build  and  25,000/.  to  arm. 
Mr.  Oppenheim  describes  her  as  'the  largest,  most 
ornate  and  most  useless  ship  afloat,'  but  after  being 
cut  down  by  the  navy  board  of  the  commonwealth 
she  did  good  service.  (Oppenheim,  p.  252  ;  Clowes, 
ii.  6.)  Launched  in  October  1637,  she  was  intended, 
as  her  name  shows,  to  assert  the  sovereignty  of  the 
British  seas,  which  since  1634  Charles  had  been 
endeavouring  to  maintain  against  the  French  and 
the  Dutch.  Selden's  Mare  Clausum  was  published 
in  1636,  to  prove  his  claim  ;  the  Earl  of  Lindsey's 
fleet  in  1635,  and  the  Earl  of  Northumberland's  in 
1636,  were  sent   forth   to  enforce    it.       (Gardiner, 


INTRODUCTION  xxv 

History  of  England,  vii.  358,  384;  viii.  154.) 
Lindsey's  fleet  consisted  of  nineteen  ships  of  the 
royal  navy  and  twenty-six  merchant  vessels. 
Northumberland's  contained  twenty-seven  king's 
ships.  This  display  of  naval  force  inspired  the 
poems  printed  on  p.  36,  the  first  a  panegyric 
On  His  Majesties  Fleet,  the  second  an  address 
from  Neptune  to  England,  which  was  probably 
derived  from  some  masque  played  at  Court  during 
these  years.  The  ballad  Upon  the  Great  Ship 
clearly  belongs  to  1637  (p.  ^7)-  ^n  that  year 
Thomas  Heywood  published  a  prose  pamphlet 
entitled  A  true  Description  of  his  Majesties  Royal 
Ship  built  this  year  at  Woolwich  in  Kent,  upon 
which  these  verses  seem  to  be  partly  based. 
Heywood  also  wrote  a  long  poem  called  An 
Epigram  upon  his  Majesties  Great  Ship  the 
Sovereign  of  the  Seas,  which  is  reprinted  in  Mr. 
Masefield's  collection  {A  Sailors  Garland,  p.  94). 

A  few  of  the  sea  songs  written  during  the  reign 
can  be  traced  from  the  entries  in  the  Stationers' 
registers.  Ballads  were  entered  On  the  Kings 
Navye  on  June  19,  1625  ;  A  narrative  of  a  sea- 
fight  by  the  Lyon  of  London  against  6  Twkish 
ships  on  January  2,  1635  ;  A  new  relation  of 
4  Englishmen  that  brought  into  Saint  Lucar's 
Turkish  Pirates  and  their  Ship  on  December  10, 
1638  ;  a  Ballad  of  the  Seafight  with  three  Turkish 
piratts  on  July  13,  1640;  A  noble  and  notable 
Seafight  on  July  17,  1640.  All  these  have  perished. 
Half  a  dozen  ballads  on  the  sea-fights  between  the 
Spaniards  and  Dutch  in  the  Channel  in  September 
1639,  and  on  the  destruction  of  the  Spanish  fleet  in 
the  Downs  by  Tromp  on  October  10,  1639,  were 
published.  Of  these  one  survives,  in  Wood's 
collection  in  the  Bodleian,  entitled  A  New  Spanish 
Tragedy  or  More   Strange   News  from  the    Seas. 


xxvi  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

In  addition  there  are  two  amatory  ballads,  one 
registered  June  13,  163 1,  called  A  Sayler  new 
come  over;  the  other,  registered  on  July  18,  1636, 
A  dainty  new  ditty  of  the  Sayler  and  his  Love, 
which  is  possibly  the  Pleasant  new  song  betwixt  the 
Sayler  and  his  Love  reprinted  in  the  Roxburghe 
Ballads,  ii.  470. 

Yet  the  most  famous  of  English  naval  ballads 
originated  during  this  period.  Martin  Parker's 
Saylors  for  my  Money  is  undoubtedly,  as  Mr.  Ebs- 
worth  points  out,  the  far  back  original  of  Camp- 
bell's Ye  Mariners  of  England  {Roxburghe  Ballads, 
vi.  797).  It  has  a  rival  in  The  Jovial  Mariner  or 
the  Seaman's  Renown,  by  Lawrence  Price  (ib.  vi. 
639).  Neptune  s  Raging  Fury  or  The  Gallant  Sea- 
mans  Sufferings,  which  begins  '  You  gentlemen  of 
England,'  is  an  adaptation  of  Martin  Parker's  ballad, 
written  probably  towards  the  end  of  Charles  I.'s 
reign,  or  perhaps  during  the  Protectorate  (zb.  vi. 
431).  All  three  are  here  reprinted  (pp.  40-46). 
The  third,  Neptune  s  Raging  Fury,  came  to  be 
known  as  The  Old  Mariners  to  distinguish  it  from 
later  adaptations,  and  an  abridged  version  of  it, 
consisting  of  the  first,  the  eleventh,  and  the  thir- 
teenth verses,  was  current  in  Campbell's  time  under 
the  title  of  The  New  Mariners.  Campbell  borrowed 
from  it  his  refrain,  and  the  phrases,  '  roar  on  the 
shore  '  and  'sweep  through  the  deep,'  and  honestly 
entitled  the  verses  he  sent  to  the  editor  of  the 
Morning  Chronicle  in  1800,  an  Alteration  of  the  old 
ballad  'Ye  Gentlemen  of  England'  (Beattie,  Life  of 
Campbell,  i.  341). 

During:  the  Commonwealth  and  the  Protectorate 
the  English  navy  became  the  most  powerful  in 
Europe,  and  yet  the  naval  victories  of  those  ten 
years  left  hardly  any  trace  in  ballad  literature. 
One  reason  for  this  was  the  rigid  censorship  of  the 


INTRO  D  UCTION  xxvii 

press  which  existed  during  that  period.  In  1647 
and  1648  a  flood  of  abusive  ballads  and  newspapers 
had  appeared  in  print,  directed  against  the  Long 
Parliament  and  the  army,  and  designed  to  further 
the  cause  of  the  King.  The  Parliament  passed  on 
September  20,  1649,  an  Act  for  the  suppression  of 
unlicensed  books  and  pamphlets,  and  for  the  punish- 
ment of  their  authors  and  vendors.  Hawkers  of 
pamphlets,  newspapers  and  ballads,  and  ballad- 
singers,  were  to  be  apprehended,  conveyed  to  the 
House  of  Correction,  and  whipped  as  rogues.  By 
this  Act,  and  by  an  Act  against  vagrants  passed  in 
1657,  declaring  that  henceforth,  '  persons  commonly 
called  fidlers  and  minstrels  '  should  be  proceeded 
against  as  '  rogues,  vagabonds  and  sturdy  beggars,' 
the  production  and  circulation  of  ballads  was 
effectually  checked.  Consequently  neither  the  naval 
commanders  of  that  time  nor  their  victories  were 
commemorated  in  the  usual  way.  There  is  indeed 
a  ballad  called  Admiral  Deanes  Ftmeral  describing 
his  interment  in  Westminster  Abbey  in  1653  (Rump 
Songs,  1660,  p.  308)  ;  but  it  is  merely  a  Royalist 
satire,  concluding  with  the  statement  that  though 
the  admiral's  body  is  solemnly  interred  '  In  the 
famous  chapel  of  Henry  the  Seven,'  yet  '  His  soul 
is  scarce  gone  the  right  way  to  heaven.'  But  the 
only  ballad  directly  relating  an  incident  in  the  wars 
of  this  period  is  one  which  describes  the  bombard- 
ment of  Malaga  by  five  of  Blake's  frigates  in  July 

1656,  which  is  reprinted  on  p.  47.  A  long  narrative 
poem  on  The  Life  and  Actions  of  that  valiant  Hero 
Robert  Blake,  Esq.,  General  of  the  Fleets  of  the 
Commonwealth  of  England,  from  the  year  1649  to 

1657,  written  during  the  Protectorate,  has  survived, 
but  it  is  too  worthless  to  reprint  (Poems  on  Affairs 
of  State,  vol.  i.  part  2,  pp.  274-290,  ed.).  Oi  more 
interest    is    the  Elegy  on  the  Death  of  the   Right 


xxviii         SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Honourable  Robert  Blake,  written  immediately  after 
his  death  by  one  George  Harrison,  who  appears  to 
have  been  serving  in  some  capacity  in  the  Meet, 
since  he  dates  it  '  on  board  the  Dunbar,  in  the 
Downs.'     This  is  given  on  p.  48. 

Poets  of  greater  repute  did  not  neglect  the 
theme  which  the  naval  annals  of  the  time  afforded. 
Andrew  Marvell,  in  a  satirical  poem  against  the 
Dutch,  entitled  The  Character  of  Holland — 
obviously  written  about  the  beginning  of  1653, 
though  it  was  not  published  till  1665 — concludes 
with  some  verses  on  the  English  navy  and  its  three 
admirals,  Deane,  Monck,  and  Blake.  He  also  wrote 
a  poem  on  Blake's  victory  at  Santa  Cruz.  The 
address  to  his  captains  which  he  puts  in  Blake's 
mouth  breathes  at  all  events  Blake's  spirit,  although 
it  is  fiction  : 

'  Of  speedy  victory  let  no  man  doubt, 
Our  worst  work's  past,  now  we  have  found  them  out. 
Behold  their  navy  does  at  anchor  lie, 
And  they  are  ours,  for  now  they  cannot  fly.' 

(Marvell's  Works,  ed.  Aitken,  i.  119  ;  ii.  14.) 

A  greater  poet,  and  more  renowned  than  Marvell, 
Edmund  Waller,  celebrated  Stayner's  capture  of  the 
Spanish  galleons  off  Cadiz  in  his  verses,  Of  a  war 
with  Spain  and  a  Fight  at  Sea.  That  poem  con- 
tains the  famous  lines, 

'  Others  may  use  the  ocean  as  their  road, 
Only  the  English  make  it  their  abode, 
Our  oaks  secure,  as  if  they  there  took  root, 
We  tread  on  billows  with  a  steady  foot.' 

These  lines,  inspired  by  Blake's  long  blockade  of 
the  Spanish  coasts  during  1656  and  1657,  helped 
in  their  turn  to  inspire  a  line  in  Campbell's 
Mariners  of  England.     Waller's  Panegyric  to  my 


INTRODUCTION  xxix 

Lord  Protector,  written  in  1655,  strikes  the  same 
note.  '  The  present  greatness  of  this  nation '  he 
attributes  in  part  to  the  wise  head  and  strong  hand 
of  the  Protector  himself,  in  part  to  the  'winged 
navy '  which  makes  the  English  '  Lords  of  the 
world's  great  waste,  the  ocean.'  This  dominion, 
which  Charles  I.  had  claimed,  the  victories  of  the 
Protector's  admirals  had  re-established,  and  its 
outward  sign  was  the  honour  paid  to  the  red-cross 
flag. 

'  The  sea's  our  own  !  and  now  all  nations  greet 
With  bending  sails,  each  vessel  of  our  fleet. 
Your  power  extends  as  far  as  winds  can  blow 
Or  swelling  sails  upon  the  globe  may  go.' 

The  pride  in  the  English  navy  which  found  its 
highest  expression  in  these  poems  of  Waller's  was 
sadly  humiliated  by  the  incidents  of  the  second 
Dutch  war.  The  first  of  the  naval  ballads  of  the 
new  reign  is  called  The  Valiant  Seaman  s  Congratu- 
lations to  his  Sacred  Majesty  King  Charles  the 
Second  (-p.  53).  It  is  an  expression  of  loyalty  and 
devotion,  protesting  a  willingness  to  go  anywhere 
and  fight  anybody  in  the  King's  cause.  At  the 
moment  it  was  written,  which  was  probably  in  1662, 
France  rather  than  Holland  seemed  the  most  likely 
adversary,  for  Louis  XIV.  was  disputing  the  cere- 
monial honours  due  to  the  British  flag.  '  If  you 
will  give  commission  to  war  with  France  we'll  go,' 
say  the  seamen  to  Charles,  promising  'we  will  make 
their  topsails  unto  our  fleet  shall  bow.'  A  couple  of 
years  later  it  became  clear  that  the  Dutch  were  to 
be  the  enemy,  not  the  French.  The  next  ballad  in 
the  series  is  £?igland's  Valour  and Holla?id} s  Terror. 
It  refers  to  Allin's  attack  on  the  Smyrna  fleet,  which 
took  place  on  December  19,  1664,  and  to  De 
Ruyter's  proceedings  in  Guinea    during  the    same 


xxx  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

year.  '  We'll  teach  you  better  manners  yet  than 
ever  did  old  Noll,'  it  threatens.  This  ballad  was 
probably  published  about  January  1665,  before  war 
was  actually  declared.  Much  about  the  same  date 
appeared  Dorset's  famous  song,  To  all  you  ladies 
now  at  land.  A  tradition  handed  down  by  Prior 
represents  it  as  written  '  the  night  before  the  en- 
gagement with  the  Dutch  in  1665,'  which  has  been 
interpreted  to  mean  the  night  before  the  battle  of 
June  3.  But  Pepys  tells  us  that  at  an  entertainment 
on  the  night  of  January  2,  1665,  '  I  occasioned 
much  mirth  with  a  ballad  I  brought  with  me,  made 
from  the  seamen  at  sea,  to  their  ladies  in  town  ; 
saying  Sir  William  Penn,  Sir  George  Ayscue  and 
Sir  John  Lawson  made  them'  (Pepys,  Diary,  ed. 
Wheatley,  iv.  322).  There  is  no  reason  to  doubt 
that  Dorset's  song  was  the  ballad  in  question. 

The  naval  battles  which  began  in  June  1665  and 
ended  in  the  summer  of  1666  are  the  subject  of  a 
series  of  ballads  which  have  fortunately  survived. 
The  battle  of  June  3,  1665,  is  celebrated  in  The 
Royal  Victory  (p.  58),  while  The  English  Seaman  s 
Resolution  clearly  belongs  to  the  spring  of  1666, 
when  Monck  and  Rupert  had  succeeded  the  Duke 
of  York  and  the  Earl  of  Sandwich  as  commanders 
(p.  61).  England's  Triumph  and  Holland's  Down- 
fall is  a  narrative  of  the  four  days'  battle  of  June 
1666.  The  writer  has  no  doubt  that  it  was  a  great 
victory,  but  is  obliged  to  own  '  we  can't  afford  such 
brunts  as  these '  (p.  63).  Hence  the  joy  with  which 
men  welcomed  the  undoubted  and  decisive  victory 
of  St.  James's  Day,  July  25,  1666.  On  it  there  are 
three  ballads:  The  New  Ballad  of  a  famous  German 
Prince  and  a  renowned  English  Duke,  Engla7id 's 
Royal  Conquest,  and  Holland  turned  to  Tinder 
(pp.  66-79).  The  series  closes  with  The  Dutch 
Damnified,    or    the    Butter-Boxes    Bobbed,    which 


INTRODUCTION  xxxi 

narrates  the  destruction  of  160  Dutch  merchantmen 
in  their  own  harbours  by  Sir  Robert  Holmes  on  the 
eight  and  ninth  of  August,  1666  (p.  79). 

The  same  tone  of  ferocious  exultation  marks 
them  all  ;  the  populace  liked  to  hear  that,  after  one 
battle,  the  Dutch  vessels  '  looked  more  like  shambles 
than  ships,'  that  in  another,  six  thousand  Dutchmen 
were  sent  to  feed  their  cousins  the  fish,  and  that  in 
a  third,  thanks  to  the  effect  of  the  British  fireships, 
you  '  might  have  had  Dutchmen  boiled  or  roast.' 
A  Dutch  captain  might  be  praised  as  a  gallant 
fighter,  but  '  he  that  caught  fishes  now  fishes  catch 
him'  was  the  sort. of  epitaph  which  pleased  the  man 
in  the  street.  '  Why  should  my  nature  or  con- 
science repine  at  taking  his  life  that  fain  would 
take  mine?'  asks  one  writer.  If  one  motive  for 
the  war  was  hatred  for  the  '  Butter-boxes '  and  the 
'  Hogan-Mogans,'  as  the  sailors  call  the  Dutch, 
another  was  the  desire  for  plunder.  '  We  mean  to 
have  some  of  your  dollars  before  that  our  fleets  do 
part '  declares  one  writer,  while  a  second  rejoices 
over  the  store  of  plate  taken  on  board  the  Dutch 
merchantmen,  which  makes  the  cabins  of  the 
English  captains  look  '  like  goldsmiths'  shops.' 

On  the  British  reverses  the  ballads  are  silent,  but 
the  poets  of  the  period  fill  the  gap.  They,  too, 
began  by  celebrating  the  successes  of  the  British 
arms.  Waller  led  off  with  a  long  poem  of  a  new 
kind,  Inst7'udi<ms  to  a  Painter  for  the  dratvijig  oj 
the  posture  and  progress  of  his  Majesties  forces  at 
sea  under  the  command  of  his  Highness-Royal ; 
together  with  the  battle  and  victory  obtained  over 
the  Dutch,  June  3,  1665  (Works,  ed.  Drury,  p.  176). 
He  described,  one  after  another,  ostensibly  for  the 
artist's  guidance,  the  early  scenes  of  the  war — the 
capture  of  the  Dutch  Bordeaux  fleet,  Allin's  attack 
on  their  Smyrna  fleet,  and  finally  the  sea-fight  off 


xxxii         SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Harwich.  It  was  to  the  courage  and  conduct  of  the 
Duke  of  York  that  Waller  attributed  the  victory  of 
the  English,  and  accordingly  he  made  James  the 
centre  of  the  battlepiece.  Scorning  defensive 
armour,  such  as  most  naval  commanders  wore  in 
those  days,  James  stands  on  his  quarterdeck,  ex- 
posed to  every  ball,  but  protected  by  some  power 
unseen : 

'  Fierce,  goodly  young !  Mars  he  resembles  when 
Heaven  sends  him  down  to  scourge  perfidious  men.' 

Waller  had  confined  himself  to  the  first  year  of 
the  war.  Dryden  undertook  to  celebrate  the  second. 
His  Annus  Mirabilis  is  an  account  of  the  events  of 
the  wonderful  year  1666,  which  appeared  early  in 
1667.  '  I  am  very  much  pleased,  writes  Pepys, 
on  February  2,  1667,  'with  reading  the  poem  I 
brought  home  with  me  last  night  from  Westminster 
Hall,  of  Dryden's  upon  the  present  war,  a  very 
good  poem'  {Diary,  ed.  Wheatley,  vi.  156).  There 
were  reasons  why  it  should  please  a  man  employed 
in  the  government  of  the  navy,  quite  apart  from  its 
subject.  Waller  had  treated  naval  warfare  purely 
as  a  theme  for  rhetoric ;  Dryden  attempted  to 
understand  it,  and  to  make  it  intelligible.  His 
description  of  the  Loyal  London,  the  vessel  which 
the  City  presented  to  the  King,  and  which  Pepys 
commends  as  '  the  best  ship  in  the  world,' gives  a 
good  picture  of  a  first-rate  of  the  period  : 

'  With  roomy  decks,  her  guns  of  mighty  strength, 

Whose  low-laid  mouths  each  mounting  billow  laves  ; 
Deep  in  her  draught  and  warlike  in  her  length, 
She  seems  a  sea-wasp  flying  on  the  waves.' 

In  another  passage  he  contrasts  the  naval  architec- 
ture and  the  naval  tactics  of  the  English  and  the 
Dutch : 


INTRODUCTION  xxxiii 

'  On  high-raised  decks  the  haughty  Belgians  ride, 
Beneath  whose  shade  our  humble  frigates  go ; 

Such  port  the  elephant  bears,  and  so  defied 
By  the  rhinoceros,  her  unequal  foe. 

'  And  as  the  build,  so  different  is  the  fight  ; 

Their  mounting  shot  is  on  our  sails  designed  : 
Deep  in  their  hulls  our  deadly  bullets  light, 

And  through  the  yielding  planks  a  passage  find.' 

In  his  desire  to  be  true  to  the  facts,  and  exact  in 
the  details,  he  did  not  hesitate  to  employ  technical 
sea  terms  which  no  previous  poet  had  dared  to  intro- 
duce in  his  verse.  See,  for  instance,  his  descrip- 
tion of  the  refitting;  of  the  English  fleet  after  the 
four  days'  battle : 

1 .  .  .  some  pick  out  bullets  from  the  side, 

Some  drive  old  oakum  through  each  seam  and  rift  ; 
Their  left  hand  does  the  caulking  iron  guide, 
The  rattling  mallet  with  the  right  they  lift. 

Some  the  galled  ropes  with  dauby  marling  bind 
Or  sear-cloth  masts  with  strong  tarpauling  coats  ; 

To  try  the  shrouds  one  mounts  into  the  wind, 
And  one  below  their  ease  or  stiffness  notes.' 

Two  other  poets  of  the  day  treated  the  story 
of  the  Dutch  war,  but  their  verses  were  written 
under  the  influence  of  the  disgrace  of  1667,  and  they 
wrote  satires  instead  of  eulogies.  In  a  series  of 
poems,  four  in  all,  generally  known  as  Directions 
to  a  Painter,  Sir  John  Denham  parodied  Waller's 
Advice  and  carried  the  story  down  to  the  end  of 
the  war.  All  are  printed  in  the  collection  of 
political  satires  published  in  1703  called  Poems  on 
Affairs  of  State  (i.  24-54).  When  the  first  part 
appeared  '  abusing  the  Duke  of  York  and  Lord 
Sandwich  and  Penn  and  everybody,  and  the  King 

b 


xxxiv         SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

himself,  in  all  the  matters  of  the  navy  and  war,' 
Pepys  was  sorry  because  his  patron  Lord  Sand- 
wich's reputation  was  involved.  Later  still  he 
thought  the  verses  witty  and  amusing.  When 
the  last  part  came  out  with  its  description  of  De 
Ruyter's  attack  on  the  Thames  in  June  1667,  the 
satire  made  his  heart  ache,  '  it  being  too  sharp  and 
so  true.'  (Diary,  vi.  101  ;  vii.  1,  116).  Another 
satirist,  more  vigorous  and  yet  bitterer  than  Denham, 
told  in  indignant  verse  the  story  of  the  same 
disaster.  Andrew  Marvell,  in  The  last  Instructions 
to  a  Painter  about  the  Dutch  Wars,  devoted  about 
three  hundred  lines  to  describing  the  fight  in  the 
Medway,  the  breaking  of  the  chain,  the.  burning  of 
the  English  ships,  and  the  capture  of  the  Royal 
Charles.  His  attack  was  directed  against  the 
Government  itself,  rather  than  against  the  com- 
manders of  the  navy,  and  some  of  his  bitterest 
sarcasms  are  aimed  at  the  attempt  to  screen  those 
really  responsible  for  the  Chatham  disaster,  by 
laying  all  the  blame  on  the  luckless  Peter  Pett,  the 
commissioner  of  the  navy  in  charge  at  Chatham. 
Marvell's  satire,  though  probably  circulated  in 
manuscript  in  1667  or  1668,  was  too  bold  to  be 
printed,  and  was  not  published  till  1689  (Marvell's 
Poems,  ed.  Aitken,  ii.  20-52,  127-157).  He  did 
not  confine  himself  to  satire,  and  in  a  separate  poem 
entitled  The  Loyal  Scot  he  commemorated  in  glow- 
ing lines  the  heroism  of  Captain  Douglas,  an  officer 
stationed  on  the  Royal  Oak,  who,  refusing  to  leave 
his  post  without  orders,  was  burnt  with  the  ship  on 
June  12,  1667  (Poems,  ed.  Aitken,  i.  126,  212). 

While  the  second  Dutch  war  fills  so  large  a 
place  both  in  poetry  and  in  the  ballads,  the  third, 
which  covers  the  period  from  March  1672  to 
February  1674,  was  left  comparatively  unsung.  It 
was  not  a  national  war  in  the  same  sense  that  the 


INTRODUCTION  xxxv 

first  and  the  second  had  been,  but  rather  the  out- 
come of  a  diplomatic  intrigue,  and  excited  less  public 
interest.  It  is  represented  in  this  collection  by  two 
ballads  only,  one  on  the  battle  of  Solebay  on  May  28, 
1672,  the  other  on  the  capture  of  a  Dutch  frigate 
by  an  English  one  in  1674  (pp.  82,  83-6).  On  the 
other  hand,  the  war  produced  a  small  crop  of  elegies 
on  the  officers  who  fell  in  different  engagements. 
The  fashion  began  in  the  first  war.  There  is  an 
elegy  on  Captain  Henry  Terne  of  the  Triumph, 
killed  in  the  four  days'  battle  in  June  1666. 
Similarly  there  is  an  Elegy  on  that  grand  Exam file 
of  Loyalty,  Valour,  and  Conduct,  Sir  Edward 
Spragget  unfortunately  drowned  {after  incomparable 
proof  of  heroic  gallantry)  in  the  late  engagement 
with  the  Dutch,  August  11,  1673.  We  have  also 
English  Iliads,  or  a  Sea-Eight  reviewed,  in  a  Poem 
occasioned  by  the  death  of  a  Person  of  Honour  slain 
in  the  late  //'#/- (Lord  Maidstone,  killed  in  the  battle 
of  Southwold  Bay).  Captain  Francis  Digby,  who 
fell  in  the  same  battle,  became  more  famous  in 
ballads.  Dryden  wrote  a  song  beginning  '  Farewell, 
fair  Armida,  my  joy  and  my  grief,'  which  was  meant 
to  represent  Digby's  farewell  to  the  Duchess  of 
Richmond,  with  whom  he  was  passionately  in  love. 
This  was  expanded  into  a  popular  ballad  entitled 
Love  and  Honour  [Roxburghc  Ballads,  vi.  36). 
Another  ballad-writer  produced  a  supplement,  The 
sorrowful  Ladies  Complaint,  relating  how  a  Damosel 
lament eth  the  loss  of  her  Lover,  who  behaved  himself 
very  valiantly  in  a  late  engagement  at  sea,  but  was 
unfortunately  slain  (ib.  iv.  397).  An  abbreviated 
version  of  this,  entitled  The  Drowned  Lover,  was 
still  sung  a  few  years  ago  (Baring  Gould,  Songs  of 
the  West,  4th  edition,  p.  xxiii). 

Usually  these  elegies  are  rhetorical  exercises  of 
very  little  interest,   but  that  on    The  Death   of  the 

b  2 


xxxvi         SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

noble  Knight,  Sir  John  Harman,  who  died  October  1 1 , 
1673,  contains  an  account  of  his  career  which 
deserves  quotation  : 

Britannia,  Queen  of  the  Ocean,  bade  me  write 
Something  memorial  of  this  Noble  Knight, 
It  must  be  Great,  or  nothing.     Nay,  said  I, 
Let  Homers  then,  or  Virgils  Poetry 
Record  his  deeds.     '  Tis  not  for  meaner  things 
To  speak  or  think  of  Admirals  or  Kings. 

When  first  in  youth  some  voyages  he  made, 
To  prosecute  Experience  or  Trade, 
His  worth  disclos'd  itself,  and  made  men  see, 
None  was  more  English  Mariner  than  he. 
Though  hearty,  sturdy  Oak  our  ships  do  frame, 
Our  Seamen  too  (if  rightly  stamp'd)  the  same, 
And  such  was  this  well-timber'd  man,  be  sure, 
That  such  hard  storms  and  bickerings  could  endure. 

When  British  Seas  and  Honour  were  assail'd 

By  Belgian  Rivals  ;  when  the  Plague  prevail'd 

At  home  ;  by  which  when  most  Men's  Courage  fail'd 

He   snatched    some  men    from    Death's   Commands,  and 

Man'd 
The  Royal  Charles,  by  Royal  Charles  Command  ; 

Next  year  was  Sixty-six,  (that  fatal  Time 

When  Londons  old  Foundations  burnt  to  Lime) 

Rear  Admiral  of  the  White  he  then  appear'd 

And  by  his  foes  he  made  his  Henry  fear'd. 

Three  Etnas  did  at  once  beset  Her  round 

Some  of  her  men  were  Burnt,  and  some  were  Drown'd  : 

Yet  then  (as  if  he  did  both  Elements  scoff) 

He  fought  his  way,  and  brought  her  bravely  off. 

His  Leg  (but  not  his  Courage)  broke  ;  and  then 

He  sympathized  with  his  maimed  men. 

Knighted,  and  Admiral  made  in  sixty-seven, 

With  Fire  Ships  Two,  and  Fighting  Ships  Eleven, 

T'America  he  steers,  and  did  such  Feats 

Dull  Europeans  will  believe  us  Cheats 


IN  TROD  UCTION  xxxvii 

If  we  but  tell  the  Truth.     As  how  he  storm'd 
Strong  Martinico,  wonders  there  perform'd  ; 
Into  their  Harbour  how  he  forced  his  way 
When  Thirty  warlike  French  and  Dutch  there  lay  ; 
Burnt  Nine,  sunk  More  ;  the  rest  (to  escape  his  hands) 
Did  sink  themselves,  to  hide  amongst  the  Sands. 
Three  Forts  he  there  Attaqu'd  and  Fir'd.     And  then 
To  Syrenham  and  Chien  wafts  his  Men  : 
Courage  and  Conduct,  there  no  less  he  shew'd. 
Whereby  he  those  Two  Countreys  soon  subdu'd. 

In  Seventy-two  Vice  Admiral  of  the  Blew, 
He  like  a  Tyger  'mongst  the  Dutchmen  flew, 
Nine  Dutch  begirt  his  Charles.  There  (sad  to  tell) 
Three  or  four  hundred  of  his  Brave  Men  fell. 
He  paid  them  off;  and  when  no  boot  to  stay 
He  nobly  brought  his  tattred  Hull  away. 

Lastly  in  Sev'nty-three,  this  present  Year, 
His  long-try 'd  Courage  lasting  did  appear 
Vice  Admiral  of  the  Red.     Though  sick  and  weak, 
When  scarcely  could  he  go,  or  stand,  or  speak, 
Yet  could  he  fight,  direct,  encourage,  see 
All  well  perform'd.     Meanwhile  poor  Gallant  he 
Sate  like  a  Mark  for  ev'ry  shot,  in  Fight. 
We'l  not  reflect  on  any  Man  ;  nor  tell 
Who  did  amiss  ;  only  that  He  did  well. 
And  having  done  his  All,  he  then  gave  o're 
He  made  to  Port,  dropt  Anchor,  came  ashore, 
Never  to  plough  the  briny  Ocean  more. 
From  midst  of  Storms,  Blood,  Noise,  Confusion,  Fires, 
He  coolly,  calmly,  peaceably  Expires, 
Whose  Death  Religious  :  Living  Actions  were 
Valiant,  Just,  Humble,  Patient  and  Sincere.' 

Next  in  importance  to  the  Dutch  war  was  the 
struggle  with  the  piratical  states  in  the  Mediter- 
ranean, which  still  continued.  Though  it  was 
marked  by  many  brave  exploits  it  left  surpris- 
ingly little  trace  in  the  naval  literature  of  Charles 
the  Second's  time.  There  were  many  engage- 
ments worthy  of  record.  On  December  19-29, 
1669,  for    instance,   Captain    John    Kempthorne  in 


xxxviii       SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

sua  »iK«re4^  = 

wasVICengravtdP  by°  Houlr  whic'h  will  be  found  in 
S'lby  sg4/-«.  and  the  incident apparently ^spired 
a  ballad  too.  The  picture  of  the  actlon  at  Green- 
wich bears  the  following  inscription  : 

<  Two  we  burnt  and  two  we  sank  and  two  did  run  away 
And  one  we  carried  to  Leghorn  Roads  to  show  wed  won 
the  day.' 

These  lines  are  almost  identical  with  two  lines  in 
dmin  Mansfield's  Fight  with  the  Turks  at  Sea 
(printed  on  p.  86).  The  ballad  on  Mansfield  s 
fight  is  perhaps  an  eighteenth  century  version,  or 
imitation  of  one  on  Kempthorne. 

Often  merchantmen  successfully  defended  them- 
selves.    About  October    '671,  Captain  J  onn  Bad, 
dison,  of  the  Swallow,  a  merchantman  of  180  tons 
and     wenty-six    men,  fought   an    Algiers    ship    of 
Xrtv-eioht   guns   and  220    men,  and  not  only  re- 
pulsed two  desperate  attacks,  but  captured  four  of 
?he    Turks   who   boarded    him.     A  poem  entiled 
An  Encomium  on  that   Worthy  Exploit  of  Captain 
thnBaddison  was  published  in   .671.     The  only 
copy  known  is  in  the  possession  of  Lord  Crawford, 
who  has  kindly  permitted  me  to  extract  the  follow- 
ing narrative  of  the  engagement : 

From  Port  a  Port  our  Hero  took  his  flight, 
With  Canvas  Wings,  to  entertain  the  Night 
On  th  Oceans  deep,  where  Billows  lofty  rise, 
Mounting  their  Surges  to  th'  unconstant  Skyes  ; 
And  after  two  dayes  spent,  he  lost  the  sight 
Of  great  Bajona,  and  prepared  to  fight 
With  a  proud  Turk,  who  from  Argier  was  sent, 
And  swiftly  gave  them  chase,  to  the  intent 


IN  TROD  UCTION  xxxix 

That  they  might  take,  and  ransack,  and  enthral 
The  Bodies,  Minds,  and  Christian  Souls  of  all. 
But  those  base  Pagans  never  can  prevail, 
If  once  our  English  Banners  them  assail. 
Our  worthy  Captain  first  did  cause  to  fly 
Two  little  Ships  that  by  him  close  did  lye  ; 
Who  from  the  Fury  of  the  Foes  did  glide, 
Being  befriended  by  Night,  Wind,  and  Tyde. 
Then  being  ready,  and  his  Guns  run  out, 
He  then  prepared  for  a  bloody  Bout, 
Like  Thunder,  Lightning,  and  a  Tempest  great ; 
Like  Raging  Waves,  which  on  the  Rocks  do  beat  ; 
Ev'n  so  our  Captain,  at  his  drawing  nigh, 
Vollies  discharged  at  his  proud  Enemy  ; 
The  Waves  did  tremble,  and  the  Heavens  blush, 
When  these  two  Champions  did  together  rush. 
The  Turks  they  board  us  knowing  not  the  strength 
Of  Valiant  English,  which  they  felt  at  length  : 
Presumption  prompt(s)  them  on  to  graple  strong, 
Which  was  too  hot  to  be  endured  long  ; 
For  being  on  Deck,  some  in  the  Air  did  fly, 
Others  our  warlike  Engines  forced  to  die ; 
Yet  six  remained,  which  almost  laid  us  waste 
By  cutting  Sails  and  Rigging  from  our  Mast  ; 
For  which  bold  fact,  two  made  the  Sea  their  grave, 
The  rest  cried  Quarter,  which  we  freely  gave. 
There  might  you  see  their  Bodies  go  to  wreck, 
Heads,  Arms,  and  Legs  bestrewed  upon  the  Deck. 
This  was  their  fate,  which  then  they  could  not  shun, 
Their  blood  did  off  the  Deck,  like  water,  run. 
Our  Men  between  Decks  with  the  great  Guns  tore 
And  rent  the  Hull  of  the  Turks  Ship  so  sore, 
Made  them  leave  off,  and  from  our  sides  to  shrink 
Lest  they  should  all  of  the  Salt-water  drink  ; 
Their  Ship  King  by  to  stop  her  Leaks,  and  then 
Resolves  to  prove  our  Valour  once  agen. 
Our  Seamen  bold,  that  never  daunted  were, 
To  their  proud  Foes,  like  Lions  did  appear, 
Threatening  destruction,  whilst  a  lucky  Gun 
Made  their  Ship  tremble,  and  our  sides  to  shun  ; 
Not  once  more  daring  to  approach  us  nigh 
But  from  us  at  a  distance  far  to  lie. 


xl  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

The  Night  came  on,  a  pleasant  gale  appears, 
They  left  each  other  ;  and  directly  steers 
To  her  desired  Port :  safely  arrived 
Our  English  Captain,  and  all  that  survived. 
Sixteen  were  wounded,  and  three  killed  outright ; 
The  Ship  sore  shattered,  and  Sails  burnt  in  fight  ; 
Only  the  Sprit  and  Mainsail  left  untore, 
Which  brought  them  safely  to  the  English  Shore  : 
Where  being  arrived,  were  by  his  Majesty 
And  Royal  Duke  welcomed  most  graciously. 
For  which  brave  Act  the  King  an  Order  gave 
The  Captain  should  a  Chain  and  Medal  have. 
The  Merchants  did  with  honour  him  commend 
Because  their  goods  he  bravely  did  defend. 

Prose  narratives  of  this  engagement  are  to  be 
found  in  the  Calendar  of  Domestic  State  Papers 
for  1671  (pp.  536,  554).  'King  Charles  in  con- 
sideration of  that  stout  and  memorable  action  of 
Captain  Baddison  .  .  .  was  pleased  to  order  a  gold 
chain  and  medal  for  him '  ( The  Historian  s  Guide, 
1688,  p.  82).  Another  merchant  captain,  Robert 
Robertson,  Charles  knighted  for  fighting  an 
Algerine  man-of-war  (Le  Neve's  Knights,  p.  2). 
More  often  weakly  armed  merchantmen  were  cap- 
tured in  defiance  of  treaties,  as  the  narratives  of 
captives  such  as  Adam  Elliot,  taken  in  1670, 
Joseph  Pitts  in  1678,  and  Thomas  Phelps  in  1684, 
all  illustrate.  A  petition  dated  between  1671  and 
1 68 1  affirmed  that  since  the  last  peace  the  Algerines 
had  taken  not  less  than  140  British  ships,  and  had 
more  than  1,500  English  slaves,  'who  suffer  and 
undergo  most  miserable  slavery,  put  to  daily  extreme 
and  difficult  labour,  but  a  poor  supply  of  bread  and 
water  for  their  food,  stripped  of  their  clothes  and 
covering,  and  their  lodging  on  the  cold  stones  and 
bricks  ;  but  what  is  more,  their  extreme  hard  and 
savage  lading  them  sometimes  with  great  burthens 
of  chains,  and  shut  up  in  noisome  places,  commonly 


INTRODUCTION  xli 

adding  some  hundreds  of  blows  on  their  bare  feet, 
forcing  out  the  very  blood,  and  sometimes  on  the 
back,  sometimes  on  the  belly,  and  sometimes  on  them 
all,  insomuch  that  many  are  long  decrepit,  some  for 
ever,  and  some  dying  under  their  hands.' 

The  fate  of  these  captive  sailors  is  illustrated 
by  a  ballad  published  about  1684,  called  The  Algiers 
Slave  s  Releasement,  or  the  Unchangeable  Boatszvain 
(p.  8S).  Such  captives  were  usually  redeemed  by  the 
contributions  of  the  charitable,  under  the  authority 
of  warrants  known  as  '  briefs '  licensing  collections 
in  churches  for  the  purpose.  (W.  A.  Bewes,  Church 
Briefs,  pp.  193-206).  Some  were  ransomed  by  the 
king  himself,  others  recovered  by  treaty  or  recap- 
tured. Squadrons  under  Allin,  Spragge,  Narbrough 
and  other  commanders  were  successively  sent  to 
the  Mediterranean  to  coerce  the  pirate  states.  The 
Diary  of  Henry  Teonge,  who  served  as  chaplain 
on  various  ships  engaged  in  that  service  from  1675 
to  1679,  contains  some  account  of  Narbrough's 
proceedings  against  Tripoli,  and  throws  a  flood  of 
light  on  the  conditions  of  life  in  the  navy  during 
the  reign  of  Charles  II.  It  was  published  in  1825. 
Teonge's  Diary  contains  a  ballad  on  the  destruction 
of  a  vessel  belonging  to  Tripoli  by  the  English  frigate 
Assistance  in  1675  (p.  63),  besides  other  specimens 
of  his  muse,  mainly  of  an  amatory  nature  (pp.  J^  79> 
168,  241,  259).  Still  more  curious  than  Teonge's 
Diary  is  a  long  narrative  poem  describing  a  cruise  in 
the  Mediterranean,  from  May  1669  to  April  1671, 
under  Sir  John  Harman.  It  is  called  The  Straights 
Voyage  or  St.  David's  Poem,  was  published  in  1671, 
and  was  written  by  John  Balthorpe,  a  clerk  on  board 
the  St.  David,  Harman's  flagship.  It  appears  to  have 
escaped  altogether  the  notice  of  naval  historians. 

One  of   the    heroes    of   this    war    was    Captain 
Thomas   Harman,  sometimes  said  to  be  the  son  of 


xlii  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

Sir  John,  and  certainly  a  kinsman.  There  is  a  ballad 
on  his  capture  of  the  Dutch  frigate  Schaherlaes 
in  February  1675  (p.  53),  but  his  career  began  in 
the  Mediterranean.  On  May  8,  1671,  Sir  Edward 
Spragge's  squadron  destroyed  seven  Algiers  men-of- 
war  and  their  prizes  in  the  harbour  of  Bugia.  The 
boom  which  defended  the  Algerines  was  cut  by  three 
of  Spragge's  boats,  thus  making  way  for  a  fireship 
to  enter.  Harman  seems  to  have  been  in  com- 
mand of  one  of  the  boats.  '  The  Admiral,'  says  a 
contemporary  letter,  '  had  every  man  killed  and 
wounded  in  his  boat,  save  Mr.  Harman,  who  is 
deservedly  commended  and  is  said  to  have  cut 
the  boom  in  half  pistol  shot  under  their  biggest 
castel  (where  the  chains  reached  not)  and  heads  of 
their  men-of-war'  [Cal.  State  Papers,  Dom.  1671, 
p.  249).  Dryden,  in  some  lines  addressed  in  1677  to 
Nat  Lee  on  his  play  of  Alexander  the  Great,  refers 
to  these  two  exploits  of  Harman's  to  prove  the 
proposition  that  some  men's  merits  are  too  pre- 
eminent for  rivalry :  for  instance,  Lee's  as  a  dramatist 
or  Harman's  as  a  sailor  : 

'  'Tis  here  as  'tis  at  sea  ;  who  farthest  goes, 
Or  dares  the  most,  makes  all  the  rest  his  foes. 
Yet  when  some  virtue  much  outgrows  the  rest, 
It  shoots  too  fast  and  high  to  be  opprest, 
As  his  heroic  worth  struck  envy  dumb, 
Who  took  the  Dutchman  and  who  cut  the  boom.' 

When  this  was  written  Harman's  brief  but  glorious 
career  had  just  ended.  In  September  1677,  while 
in  command  of  the  Sapphire,  34,  he  engaged  an 
Algerine  ship  called  the  Golden  Horse,  46,  failed 
to  take  her,  and  was  mortally  wounded  in  the 
fight.  Elegiac  Verses  on  the  death  of  Captain 
Thomas  Harman,  late  commander  of  his  Majesties 
Frigot   the    Sapphire,   addressed  and    presented  to 


INTRODUCTION  xliii 

the  Duke  of  York,  are  amongst  the  Luttrdl 
collection  in  the  British  Museum.  Like  a  sturdy- 
oak,  stricken  by  thunder,  says  the  poet,  Harman's 
body  fell  on .  the  deck,  but  his  soul  flew  upwards 
to  heaven,  and  the  other  dead  British  heroes  helped 
him  in  to  the  mansions  of  the  blest, 

'  Lavvson,  Minnes,  Spragge  and  many  more  beside, 
As  soon  as  they  the  labouring  soul  espied, 
Let  down  their  beams,  and  pointed  out  the  way 
To  the  bright  mansions  of  Eternal  Day.' 

Our  last  ballad  of  the  reiom  of  Charles  II.  is  The 
Benjamins  Lamentation.  Though  no  ship  of  that 
name  can  be  found  in  the  lists  of  the  navy,  it  will 
serve  as  an  example  of  the  class  of  ballads  relating 
to  shipwrecks,  and  its  metrical  form  is  of  some 
interest.      Possibly  it  is  an  early  chanty. 

The  short  reign  of  James  II.  affords  us  only  two 
ballads  of  interest,  both  of  which  come  from  the 
collections  of  Samuel  Pepys.  One  relates  the  pro- 
sperous hunt  of  William  Phipps  for  the  treasure  of 
a  Spanish  galleon  wrecked  in  the  Bahamas  (p.  96). 
He  sailed  in  September  1686  in  a  King's  ship  called 
the  James  and  Mary,  returning  in  June  1687  with 
cargo  valued  at  300,000/.  (LuttreW's  Diary,  i.  407-8; 
Hutchison,  Massachusetts  Bay,  i.  397  ;  Ellis,  Cor- 
respondence, i.  295,  325).  James  knighted  him  on 
June  28,  1687.  The  second  is  still  more  interesting, 
for  it  shows  that  even  in  time  of  peace  the  hostility 
of  the  Spaniards  to  the  English  in  the  West  Indies 
was  so  great  that  a  man  of  war  was  treacherously 
attacked  as  it  lay  in  a  Spanish  harbour.  The 
Dartmouth,  the  vessel  in  question,  was  a  fifth-rate, 
carrying  twenty-eight  guns,  and  according  to  a  note 
by  Pepys  the  ballad  was  composed  by  Hovenden 
Walker  (subsequently  Rear-Admiral  of  the  White) 
who  was  then  serving  on  board  her  (p.  92). 


xliv  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

With  the  reign  of  William  III.  there  was  a 
great  increase  in  the  number  of  naval  ballads  pub- 
lished, due  to  the  increased  interest  which  the 
nation  took  in  maritime  affairs. 

The  war  with  France  was  popular  both  with  the 
navy  itself  and  with  the  people.  '  Lewis,  that 
Christian  Turk,'  was  generally  hated  as  a  sovereign 
who  designed  to  ruin  all  Protestant  princes,  and 
sought  to  '  lay  a  heavy  yoke '  on  the  free  English 
nation.  This  is  the  argument  set  forth  in  The 
Boatswain  s  Call  to  induce  sailors  to  enter  the  navy. 
Impressment  was  necessary.  '  Some,'  continues  the 
ballad,  '  dread  and  fear  the  press  as  much  as  dying, 

'  And  skulk  like  frighted  slaves  here  in  distraction 
To  hide  in  dens  and  caves  from  warlike  action.' 

But  for  the  moment  popular  feeling  was  in 
favour  of  impressment.  So  at  all  events  the  ballad 
called  The  Maidens  Frolic  seems  to  prove,  which 
relates  how  '  six  lusty  lasses  pressed  fourteen 
tailors.'  Another  ballad,  The  Undaunted  Seaman, 
describes  a  sailor  resolving  to  venture  his  life  '  to 
subdue  the  pride  of  France  '  in  spite  of  '  his  love's 
sorrowful  lamentation.'  A  fourth  relates  a  maid's 
attempt  to  buy  her  lover's  discharge  for  ten  pounds. 

'  Not  ten  pounds  or  twenty  will  buy  his  discharge, 
Fair  maid,  you  must  patiently  bear  ; 
He  shall  go  to  sea  for  his  King  to  engage, 
And  he  must  bid  adieu  to  his  dear.' 

Thus  the  captain  answers,  and  the  maid  is  convinced, 
and  resigns  herself  to  the  parting  (pp.  97-106). 

The  first  task  the  navy  took  part  in  was  the 
reconquest  of  Ireland.  Unfortunately  there  seem  to 
be  no  ballads  extant  either  on  the  relief  of  London- 
derry or  the  fight  in  Bantry  Bay.  Crofton  Croker's 
Historical  Songs  of  Ireland,  published  by  the  Percy 


INTRODUCTION  xlv 

Society  in  1S41,  contains  half  a  dozen  ballads  on 
military  operations  in  Ireland  under  William  III., 
but  none  on  naval.  But  the  Pepysian  collection 
supplies  a  ballad  on  the  capture  of  the  Pelican 
frigate  in  Dublin  Bay,  under  the  eyes  of  '  Old 
James  and  his  Teagues,'  by  Sir  Clovvdisley  Shovell 
(see  p.  107).  This  took  place  in  April  1690,  and 
the  account  of  the  exploit  given  is  so  detailed 
that  it  looks  as  if  it  were  written  by  some  one 
who  served  under  Shovell  (see  Luttrell's  Diary, 
ii.  35).  Next  month  came  a  rumour  that  Admiral 
Henry  Killigrew  with  a  squadron  in  the  Mediter- 
ranean had  beaten  the  French  Meet  under  Chateau 
Renault,  sinking  two  ships  and  taking  three 
(Luttrell's  Diary,  ii.  47,  57,  61).  The  rumour  was 
untrue,  for  his  attempt  to  bring  them  to  an  engage- 
ment was  unsuccessful  (Burchett,  Transactions  at 
Sea,  pp.  37-43)-  Nevertheless  the  fictitious 
triumph  was  embodied  in  a  ballad  called  The 
Seaman  s  Victory  (see  p.  108).  On  June  30,  1690, 
Torrington  was  worsted  by  de  Tourville  at  Beachy 
Head.  '  Both  the  admirals,'  says  Burnet,  '  were 
equally  blamed — ours  for  not  fighting  and  the 
French  for  not  pursuing.'  Torrington  was  sent  to 
the  Tower,  and  accused  by  the  popular  voice  of  want 
of  courage  as  well  as  of  want  of  conduct.  Of  this 
feeling  the  ballad  called  Tornngtonia,  or  a  New 
Copy  of  Verses  on  the  late  Sea  Engagement,  is  the 
expression  (p.  1 10). 

Another  incident  which  occurred  in  the  same 
month  is  related  in  an  elegy,  In  the  ??ie?)iory  0/  the 
truly  Loyal  and  Valiant  Captain  John  George,  late 
Commander  of  their  Majesties  Frigate  the  Rose, 
being  a  full  and  true  Relation  of  a  bloody  Fight 
between  the  said  Frigate  and  a  French  man-of-war 
to  the  eastward  of  Cape  Sables  on  Saturday  the  24th 
of  May,    1690.     John  George  was  in  charge  of  a 


xlvi  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

convoy  when  he  sighted  the  French  ship,  which 
was  superior  in  force  to  his  own.     The  enemy 

'  Twenty  odd  guns  on  either  side  hauled  out, 
Seamen  and  soldiers  full  four  hundred  [stout]. 
The  Rose  a  fifth-rate,  not  full  thirty  guns, 
Six  score  brave  lads,  burthen  three  hundred  tuns.' 

George  was  killed  by  a  ball  from  the  Frenchman's 
maintop,  but  David  Condon,  his  lieutenant,  carried 
on  the  fight  (assisted  by  that  '  gallant  spark,' 
Captain  Ben  Clark  of  Wapping,  '  in  the  European 
of  London,  a  mast  ship,'  which  carried  ten  guns), 
and  beat  off  the  assailant.  When  New  England 
rose  against  the  government  of  Sir  Edmund 
Andros  in  April  1689,  George  had  been  made  a 
prisoner,  but  was  released  by  order  of  the  King, 
though  much  distrusted  by  the  supporters  of  the 
revolution.  One  reason  for  publishing  the  relation 
was  that  the  base  Bostonians,  'cursed  sons  of  Cham,' 
said  that  the  captain  had  betrayed  his  convoy  (see 
Cal.  State  Papers,  Dom.  1 690-1,  p.  376  ;  id. 
America  and  West  Indies,  1689-92,  pp.  66,  121, 
269  ;  Charnock,  Biographia  Navalis,  ii.  98,  308). 

In  1 69 1  Admiral  Russell  was  in  command  of  the 
fleet  in  the  Channel,  but  though  he  cruised  from 
May  to  September,  achieved  nothing  (Burchett, 
pp.  63-91).  A  satirical  ballad,  ironically  entitled 
England' 's  Triumph  at  Sea,  probably  by  the  same 
author  as  Torrtngtonia,  hints  that  '  the  cherry- 
cheeked  Russell '  was  very  careful  not  to  meet  with 
his  foes  (p.  112).  Two  regiments  of  marines  had 
been  raised  in  April  1690,  and  served  in  the  fleet, 
and  the  first  allusion  ballads  make  to  this  branch 
of  service  is  contained  in  the  following  lines  : 

'  We  had  sea  colonels  o'  th'  nature  of  otter, 

Which  either  might  serve  by  land  or  by  water, 

Though  of  what  they  have  done  we  hear  no  great  matter.' 


INTRODUCTION  xlvii 

In  September  169 1  Russell's  fleet  put  into 
Plymouth  in  a  violent  storm,  losing  two  ships,  the 
Coronation,  a  second-rate,  and  the  Harwich,  a  third- 
rate.  This  disaster  is  commemorated  in  England s 
Great  Loss  by  a  Storm  of  I  Find,  which  exaggerates, 
as  ballads  generally  do,  and  makes  him  lose  nine 
ships  (p.  113). 

The  failures  of  1690  and  1691  enhanced  the 
glory  of  the  victory  of  La  Hogue  in  1692.  On 
that  battle  there  are  no  less  than  four  ballads.  One 
of  them,  Admiral  Russell  scowering  the  French 
Fleet,  long  kept  its  popularity  with  sailors,  and  is 
to  be  found  in  most  eighteenth-century  collections 
of  songs.  A  pamphleteer,  writing  in  1757  about  the 
action  off  Toulon  on  February  11,  1744,  says,  'I 
myself  heard  the  song  about  the  battle  of  La  Hogue 
sung  by  almost  every  man  on  board  one  ship  the 
day  of  the  battle  of  Toulon  with  very  good  effect, 
till  the  infamous  behaviour  of  some  in  the  fleet  put 
an  end  to  their  song,  and  changed  their  praises  of 
the  dead  into  curses  of  the  living,  and,  upon  inquiry, 
I  had  reason  to  believe  it  was  sung  in  every  ship 
in  the  fleet  with  the  same  effect '  ( Three  Letters 
relating  to  the  Navy,  Gibraltar  and  Port-Mahon, 
1757,  p.  18).  Rear-Admiral  Richard  Carter,  who 
was  killed  at  La  Hogue,  is  the  subject  of  an  elegy 
preserved  in  the  British  Museum.  It  shows  that 
he  was  popular  with  those  who  served  under  him  : 

1  His  virtue  was  not  rugged,  like  the  waves, 
Nor  did  he  treat  his  sailors  as  his  slaves : 
But  courteous,  easy  of  access,  and  free, 
His  looks  not  tempered  with  severity.' 

There  was  also  published  in  1692  a  Con- 
gratulatory Ode  to  Admiral  Russell  and  the  other 
Sea- Commanders  for   their   late    Gloriotis    Victory. 


xlviii         SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

It  refers   in    the  last  verse  to  the  rumours    spread 
against  the  loyalty  of  the  admirals  : 

'  Go  on,  true  sons  of  Honour,  still  advance 

The  English  glory  by  depressing  France  : 

Go  on  to  prove,  how  much  a  royal  trust 

Works  upon  spirits  that  are  brave  and  just: 

This  our  great  mistress  knew,  whose  piercing  eyes, 

Unprejudiced  by  lying  calumnies, 

Could  look  through  every  faithful  breast, 

And  saw  the  loyal  zeal  they  afterwards  exprest. 

The  year  after  La   Hogue  was  marked  by  the 
capture  of  a  large  part  of  the  Turkey  fleet  which 
Sir  George  Rooke  was  convoying.     On  this  event 
the  naval  muse  is  silent.     On  May  10,  1694,  Captain 
Pickard,  in  command  of  two  third-rates,  the  Mon- 
mouth   and  the    Resolution,    and   of  the_  Roebuck 
fireship    fell  in    off  the    French    coast  with  a  fleet 
of  fifty-two  merchantmen  bound  for  Dunkirk,  and 
destroyed     thirty-five    (Luttrell,     Diary,   111.     312  j 
Burchett,  p.   214)-     This  is  the  subject  of  a  ballad 
entitled   The    Valiant   Seaman  s   Courage    (p.    125) 
More  interesting  is  England s  Glory  in  the  behaviour 
of  brave  Killeygrove,  which  relates  the  capture  of 
two  French  ships,  the  Content,  of  sixty  guns  and 
the  Trident,  of  fifty-two,  off  Pantelaria,  by  a  squadron 
of  six  ships,  under  the  command  of  Captain  James 
Killigrew   (p.    126).     The  action    took  place  about 
Tanufry  27     1695,  and  Killigrew  lost  his  life  early 
in  the    engagement   (Burchett,  p.    266  ;    Charnock, 
Biop-raphia  Navalis,  ii.  327).  . 

From  July  1694  to  the  autumn  of  1695,  Admiral 
Russell  in  command  of  a  combined  Dutch  and 
EnMish  fleet,  dominated  the  Mediterranean  and 
checked  the  progress  of  the  French  arms  in  Spain. 
The  significance  of  his  operations  is  brought  out  in 
Mr  Julian  Corbett's  England  in  the  Mediterranean 


INTRODUCTION  x]ix 

(ii.    149-184),  and  the   ballad    called   The  Frighted 

French  or  Russell  scouring  the  Seas,  represents 
the  feeling  which  Tourville's  disinclination  to  come 
out  of  Ioulon  and  risk  an  engagement  produced  in 
England  (pi  28, /to/).  '  The  honour  of  commanding 
the  sea  and  of  shutting  the  French  within  their 
ports,  says  Burnet  'gave  a  great  reputation  to  our 
attairs.  I  he  ballad,  written  early  in  1605,  refers 
also  to  the  intended  operations  on  the  coast  of 
r ranee.      It  threatens  the  French  : 

'Now  the  spring's  a-coming,  our  English  will  be  burning 
Your  towns  that  be  builded  near  the  sea.' 

'We  had  another  fleet  in  our  own  Channel.'  continues 
tfurnet,  that  was  ordered  to  bombard  the  French 
coast  ;  they  did  some  execution  upon  St.  Malos,  and 
destroyed  Grandville  that  lay  not  far  from  it  ■  thev 
also  attempted  Dunkirk,  but  failed  in  the  execution 
some  bombs  were  thrown  into  Calais,  but  without  any 
great  effect;  so  that  the  French  did  not  suffer  so 
much  by  the  bombardment  as  was  expected  :  the 
country  indeed  was  much  alarmed  by  it ;  thev  had 
many  troops  dispersed  all  along  their  coast  ;  so  that 
it  put  their  affairs  in  great  disorder  and  we  were  every- 
where masters    at    sea1  (Own    Times,   iv.    277,  ed. 

On  the  other  hand,  while  the  French  fleet  was 
confined  to  its  ports,  English  commerce  was  poorly 
protected,  and  it  suffered  greatly  during  this  period 
both  from  privateers  and  pirates.  The  pirate  now 
begins  to  make  a  figure  in  ballad  literature.  The 
hrst  quarter  of  the  seventeenth  century  had  been 
marked  by  the  development  of  the  Barbary  corsairs, 
and  its  last  decade  was  characterised  by  the  orowth 
of  a  new  form  of  piracy.  It  is  true  the  buccaneers 
whose  exploits  reached  their  height  when  Morgan 


X  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

caotured  Panama  in  1668,  were  little  better  than 
nirates  (though  some  of  them  had  commissions  of 
P1  s^  t  Sm* the  Governor  of  Jamatca ^  but  they 
confined  their  activity  to  the  Spanish  Main  ana  me 
South  Sea  The  new  pirates,  however,  frequented 
fhe  eastern  even  more  than  the  western  seas,  and 

Avery    the  mock  king  of  Madagascar.     In i/o, 
s±ueryy    *  ^     •nmis    he  was    made    the 

W^plav  called  fflw/**     Earlier 
stl  1 ^theretfs  published  the  Life  and  Adventures 
ifcap^Jokl  Avery  nam  in  M^asear^ 
fhe  Wlad  gives  the  pirates  name  as  Henry Every 
h„t    ^verv  is  the  commoner  form.      In   May  1094 
M      merchant  ship,  the  Charles  the  Second 
Commanded   by  Captain   Gibson    was    ymg   near 
r„nin„a      She  was  a  stout  vessel  and  carnea  loriy 
™ns      Averv  persuaded  the  crew  to  mutiny,  set 

Mogul-       This    led    to    reprisals    and    the    seizure 

clamation  was  issued   on  July   i°-    '°?  '  | 

Avery  and  his  crew,  pirates,  ^P^^JZZe 
for  their  apprehens.on.  Five  of  the  «ewwere 
seized  on  their  return  to  England  tried  at  the  u  a 
Batley,  October  ^-November  6. 696,  |nd  duly 
hangeYd.  Others  were  ar;es  ed  •*  ^  Jh-  in 
T" vefJoZ^eZ;  Captain  Henry  Avery, 


INTRODUCTION  Vl 

toffy  ton  to  Sea  to  seek  his  fortune,  and  the  fate 
oi  his  followers  in  Villany  Rewarded;  or  the 
Pirates'  last  Farewell (pp.  131,  133)  '** 

r    ^Ver(n,'UCCeS?,^red    others°°to    imitate    him 
Captain    William    Kidd    sailed    from    Plymouth    m 
May   1696  in  command  of  a  privateer   called    the 
Adventure  galley,  equipped  by  private  subscription 
but  with  a  commission  under  the  Great  Seal  to  seize 
pirates,      kidd,  however,  turned  pirate  himself,  was 
arrested    at    Boston    in   July   1699,    transmitted   to 
England  for  trial,  and  hanged  at  Execution  Dock 
on  May  23,    1701.      Captain   Kidd's  Farewell  to 
the  Seas _was  a  popular  song  and  set  to  a  popular 
une        The    whole    ballad  is  only  to   be  found  L 
Lord  Crawford  s  collection,  and  to  him  the  Societv 
is    indebted    for    permission    to    reprint    it    in    this 
volume  (p.  134).  l  ,ia 

During  the  last  ten  years  of  the  seventeenth 
century  pirates  made  the  eastern  seas  and  the 
coast  of  Africa  as  unsafe  as  the  buccaneers  had 
made  the  western.  The  ballad  entitled  The  Caesar's 
Victory  tells ^how  an  Indiaman  successfully  beat  off 
five  such  adversaries  (p.  I2Q).  The  attack  took 
place  near  Cape  Verd  Islands  on  October  31,  l6S6 
A  full  account  is  given  in  Mayo's  Medals  and 
^orations  of  the  British  Army  and  Navy  i    61 -6 

In  the  West  Indies  European  pirates  continued 

after  th J  ^  mrUC^Tlon?er  than  ^  the  East,  and 
after  the  peace  of  Utrecht  there  followed  a  Rreat 
recrudescence  of  piracy,  which  lasted  for  ten  years 

wirT"  ?  eX?l°ltSr  °J  theSe  Pirates  are  rec°^ed, 

Tit  ?T  rXtUr.e  °f  fiction'  in  CharJes  Johnson's 
General  History  of  the  Pirates,  published  in  1724. 
On  September  5  1717,  George  I.  issued  a  general 
proclamation  for  the  suppressing  of  pirates,  offering 
a  pardon  to  all  who  surrendered  before  September  5 
1718  (J°hnson,  p.  33).     One  of  the  most  notorious 


c  2 


Hi  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Edward  Teach,  alias  Blackbeard,  was  killed  by 
Lieutenant  Robert  Maynard  of  the  Pearl,  in  an 
action  in  James  River  in  Virginia  on  November  22, 
1 7 18.  A  ballad  called  The  Downfall  of  Piracy 
celebrated  Maynard's  exploit,  and  forms  a  fitting 
close  to  the  series  illustrating  this  portion  of  our 
naval  annals  (p.  166). 

To  return  to  the  reign  of  William  III.  During 
the  later  years  of  the  war  with  France  the  develop- 
ment of  privateering  was  more  dangerous  to  English 
trade  than  the  growth  of  piracy.  From  the  very 
beginning  of  the  war  English  commerce  had  suffered 
greatly.  Nearly  every  year  there  were  loud  com- 
plaints against  the  management  of  the  navy,  and 
parliamentary  debates  '  on  the  miscarriages  at  sea.' 
'  By  an  odd  reverse  of  things,'  writes  Burnet, 
speaking  of  the  year  1692,  '  as  we  made  no  consider- 
able losses  when  the  French  were  masters  of  our  seas 
two  years  before,  so  now  when  we  triumphed  in  that 
element,  our  merchants  suffered  the  most'  The 
same  thing  happened  in  1695  (Burnet,  Own  Times, 
iv.  169,  268).  Much  was  attributed  to  the  mis- 
management of  the  admiralty,  and  as  much  to  the 
incapacity  of  some  of  the  commanders.  The  old 
controversy  as  to  the  relative  merits  of  '  tarpaulins ' 
and  gentlemen  captains  revived  once  more.  That 
question  is  the  main  subject  discussed  in  the  tract 
called  A  Rough  Draught  of  a  New  Model  at  Sea, 
written  by  Lord  Halifax,  probably  about  1694 
(Foxcroft,  Life  of  Halifax,  ii.  454).  It  is  also  the 
subject  of  A  Satire  on  the  Sea  Officers,  apparently 
written  about  the  end  of  1 690,  from  its  references  to 
the  battle  of  Beachy  Head  (p.  137).  The  author's 
conclusion  is  that  tarpaulins  should  rule  at  sea.  He 
refers  also  to  the  desire  of  captains  to  line  their 
pockets  by  carrying  plate  for  merchants  instead  of 
fighting,  and   he    might    also    have    mentioned  the 


IN  TROD  UC  TION  liii 

habit  of  exacting  money  from  merchants  for  con- 
voys, an  act  for  which  in  1689  the  House  of 
Commons  committed  Captain  Churchill  to  the 
Tower. 

As  the  war  went  on  there  were  loud  complaints 
of  corruption  in  the  victualling  and  shipbuilding 
departments,  and  the  grievances  of  the  seamen  were 
set  forth  in  pamphlets  by  Robert  Crosfield,  William 
Hodges,  George  St.  Lo  and  other  writers.  Hodges 
published  in  1695  Great  Britain's  Groans:  or  an 
account  of  the  oppression,  ruin,  and  destruction  of 
the  loyal  Seamen  of  England,  in  the  fatal  loss  of 
their  pay,  health,  and  lives,  and  dreadful  ruin 
of  their  families.  One  grievance  was  impressment, 
a  greater  that  men,  once  pressed,  were  kept  at  sea 
continuously,  and  not  allowed  any  interval  of  liberty 
between  their  cruises.  But  their  greatest  grievances 
related  to  their  pay  :  their  wages  were  too  long 
delayed  ;  they  were  transferred  from  ship  to  ship 
without  being  paid  ;  they  were  obliged  to  sell  the 
certificates  for  their  wages  at  half-price  to  ticket- 
buyers,  and  so  on.  Besides  this,  they  were  badly 
fed  and  harshly  treated.  In  the  good  old  days,  said 
a  pamphleteer,  '  they  were  not  poisoned  by  bad 
provisions,  pease  bread,  and  stinking  beef  and  pork.' 
Moreover,  '  such  men  as  General  Blake,  the  Earl  of 
Sandwich,  Dean,  Lawson,  Bourne,  Minns,  etc.  were 
familiar  with  their  sailors,  and  instead  of  calling 
them  damned  dogs  or  sons  of  whores,  called  them 
brethren  '  {Remarks  upon  the  Navy.  In  a  Letter 
from  a  Sailor  to  a  Member  of  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, 1700,  part  ii.  p.  14).  These  grievances 
found  expression  in  a  ballad  called  The  Sea 
Martyrs,  or  the  Seamen  s  Sad  Lamentation  of  their 
faithful  service,  bad  pay,  a?id  cruel  usage,  which 
the  vigilant  Pepys  preserved,  but  forgot  to  date 
(see  p.  140).     The  sailors  punished  were  evidently 


liv  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

regarded   as    popular   heroes,    and  the  ballad   is  a 
parallel    to    those  written   later   on  the  mutiny    of 

179 A  grievance  still  more  often  mentioned  was 
that  the  food  was  defective  both  in  quality  and 
quantity.  Balthorpe's  verse  narrative  of  his  cruise 
in  the  Mediterranean  in  1669-1671  is  full  of  com- 
plaints. Within  a  month  after  leaving  England 
the  crew  of  the  St.  David  were  put  upon  short 
allowance. 

<  What  meat  before  the  King  for  four 
Allowed,  now  six  men  it  devour  ; 
A  dollar  to  each  man  is  due, 
Each  twenty-eight  days  'tis  true  :    ^ 
When  we  can  get  it  we  drink  wine. 

The  wine  which  the  sailors  could  cheaply  procure 
in  the  Mediterranean  ports  compensated  tor  the 
scantiness  of  the  food  : 

1 A  seaman  when  he  gets  ashore 
In  one  day's  time  he  spendeth  more 
Than  three  months  short  allowance  money. 

Their  beef  and  pork  is  very  scant, 
I'me  sure  of  weight  one  half  it  want ; 
A  kind  of  horse  beans  they  do  get  for  pease, 
No  nourishment  at  all  there  is  in  these  ; 
Instead  of  English  cheese  or  butter 
A  little  oyl  we  get,  God  wot,  far  worser. 
A  little  rice  we  get  instead  of  fish 
Which  unto  you  is  known,  but  a  poor  dish  : 
Except  good  sauce  to  put  it  in  you  had,  ? 

For  with  good  sauce  a  deal-board  is  not  bad. 

On  the  coast  of  Portugal  and  in  the  Mediterranean 
a  mixture  of  wine  and  water  was  served  out 
instead  of  beer.  It  was  commonly  spoken  ol  as 
•  beverage.' 


INTRODUCTION  lv 

'  Our  drink  it  is  but  vinegar  and  water, 
Four  shilling  beer  in  England's  ten  times  better — 
So  that  when  saylors  gets  good  wine 
They  think  themselves  in  heaven  for  the  time  : 
It  hunger,  cold,  all  maladies  expels, 
With  cares  of  the  world  we  trouble  not  ourselves.' 

Balthorpe  drew  up  a  verse,  petition  to  Sir  John 
Harman  on  September  4,  1670,  denouncing  the 
malpractices  of  the  purser  and  the  victuallers,  which 
is  dated  'written  on  Ban  Yan  Saturday,  being 
Kettle  Holyday.'  As  usual,  the  complaint  made 
was  not  against  the  regulations,  but  against  the 
officials  : 

'  Purser,  steward,  mate,  all  three 
I  wish  them  hanged  upon  a  tree : 
Except  that  we  have  scoffe  for  dinner, 
It  were  no  harm  as  I'm  a  sinner. 
They  say  they  give  us  what  the  king  allows, 
They  think  they  speak  to  fools  that  nothing  knows; 
But  they're  mistaken  in  the  matter  quite, 
Were  we  their  judge,  they'd  hang  outright.' 

No  petition  or  promise  of  redress  produced  more 
than  a  temporary  amendment.  Resignation  and  an 
occasional  drinking  bout  was  the  only  course. 

'  I  know  the  King  far  better  doth  allow, 
But  how  to  compass  it  we  do  not  know, 
For  mutineers  we  will  be  never 
If  that  we  keep  but  life  and  soul  together.' 

The  same  complaint  recurs  in  the  eighteenth 
century,  and  is  set  forth  at  length  in  the  True 
Character  of  the  Pzwser  of  a  Ship  (p.  233). 

Yet  the  sailor  of  the  seventeenth  century,  badly 
fed,  badly  paid  and  badly  treated,  was  a  cheerful 
person  and  pleased  with  small  things.  Whitelocke, 
in  his  relation  of  his  embassy  to  Sweden  in    1653, 


lvi  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

describes  his  life  on  board  ship.  The  ambassador 
was  affable,  and  gained  the  love  of  all  the  ship's 
company.  He  'got  into  the  favour  of  the  officers 
and  mariners  by  his  kindness  and  familiarity,  by 
being  much  on  the  decks  and  drolling  with  them 
and  discoursing,  especially  by  affording  them  now 
and  then  a  douse  in  the  neck  or  a  kick  in  jest, 
seeing  them  play,  and  then  giving  them  some  of 
his  own  tobacco,  wine,  and  strong  waters,  as  there 
was  occasion,  which  demeanours  please  those  kind 
of  people'  {Journal,  i.  135).  As  he  amused  them, 
so  they  in  return  amused  him.  On  his  return,  when 
he  was  wind-bound  off  the  mouth  of  the  Elbe,  '  the 
mariners,  in  their  usual  way  of  sporting,  endeavoured 
to  make  him  some  pastime  to  divert  the  tediousness 
of  his  stay  and  of   the  bad  weather '  {Journal,  ii. 

339). 

Of  what  nature  the  pastime  was  we  can  infer 
from  a  few  notices.  Pepys  mentions  in  the  journal 
of  his  voyage  to  Tangiers,  under  August  27,  1683  ; 
'  Till  midnight  on  the  quarter  deck,  seeing  the 
seamen  dance  to  the  harp  and  sing '  {Correspon- 
dence, i.  343).  And  again  on  September  3  :  '  This 
evening  much  mirth  among  the  seamen  dancing, 
the  sea  running  high '  {ib.  i.  346).  There  was 
music  of  some  kind  on  board  most  men-of-war. 
In  the  Bristol,  during  Teonge's  voyage  to  the 
Mediterranean  in  1675,  the  only  instruments 
mentioned  are  trumpets.  When  the  ship  left  the 
Downs  '  our  trumpets  sound  "  Maids,  where  are 
your  hearts  ? "  '  and  again  as  a  compliment  to  the 
English  consul  at  Scanderoon  the  trumpets  played 
the  same  tune.  In  describing  the  celebration  of 
Christmas  Day  music  is  mentioned  again.  '  At 
four  in  the  morning  our  trumpeters  all  doe  flatt  their 
trumpetts,  and  begin  at  our  Captain's  cabin,  and 
thence  to  all  the  officers'  and  gentlemen's  cabins  ; 


INTRODUCTION  lvii 

playing  a  levite  at  each  cabine  doore,  and  bidding 
good  morrow  wishing  a  Merry  Christmas.  After 
they  goe  to  their  station,  viz.  on  the  poope,  and 
sound  three  levitts  in  honour  of  the  morning' 
{Diary  of  Henry  Teonge,  1825,  pp.  12,  91,  117). 
Balthorpe's  ship,  the  St.  David,  only  had  a  fiddler. 
On  Christmas  Day, 

'  Our  Fidler  then  did  play  and  sing 

At  cabin  door,  made  steerage  ring, 

With  cheerful  voice  bid  them  good  morrow. 

I  think  that  he  did  verses  borrow 

From  some  famed  poet,  for  he'd  sing 

Brave  merry  songs  made  all  to  ring.' 

Before  the  voyage  began,  as  the  ship  lay  in 
Portsmouth  Road, 

1  Our  Fidler  did  in  triumph  fetch 
His  fiddle  from  aboard  a  ketch 
Called  the  Portsmouth,  and  did  play 
Oft  times  to  pass  the  time  away. 
Sometimes  to  pass  sad  cares  away 
On  Forecastle  we  dance  the  Hay  ; 
Sometimes  dance  nothing,  only  hop  about — 
It  for  good  dancing  passes  'mongst  the  rout ; 
Yet,  on  my  word,  I  have  seen  sailors 
More  nimble  dance  than  any  taylors.' 

{The  Straights  Voyage) 

Dr.  John  Covel  gives  a  still  more  detailed  account 
of  the  diversions  of  the  sailors.  '  If  the  weather 
be  fair  and  permit  it  we  seldome  fail  of  some  merry 
fellows  in  every  ship's  crew  who  will  entertain  us 
with  several  diversions,  as  divers  sorts  of  odde 
sports  and  gambols  ;  sometimes  with  their  homely 
drolls  and  farses,  which  in  their  corrupt  language 
they  name  interlutes,  sometimes  they  dance  about 
the  mainmast  instead  of  a  maypole,  and  they 
have  variety  of  forecastle  songs,  ridiculous  enough  ' 


lviii  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

(September  1670.  Diary  of  Dr.  John  Cove/, 
p.  104,  Hakluyt  Society,  1893). 

A  play  written  in  1681  represents  a  captain  on 
shore  who  makes  a  companion  sing  one  of  these 
songs.  Captain  Porpuss  is  described  as  '  a  blunt 
tarpaulin  captain.'  When  a  song  is  proposed  in  the 
drawing-room  where  he  happens  to  be,  he  demands 
a  song  with  some  sense  in  it — not  a  whining  thing 
about  Phillis  or  Chloris — such  a  song  as  he  used  to 
hear  in  the  happy  days  when  he  was  Captain  of  the 
Success. 

'  Well,  she  was  riding  at  Sole  Bay  ;  'twas  just  before  the 
fight  (wherein  I  did  such  notable  service) ;  I  had  then  a 
lieutenant  aboard — a  little  dapper  fellow,  but  as  stout  as 
Hercules  ;  and  when  we  met  a-nights  in  the  great  cabin, 
over  a  jolly  bowl  of  punch,  the  rogue  would  sing  us  the 
best  sea-songs,  and  so  roar  'em  out !  I  think  I've  a  fellow 
can  remember  one  of  them.     Sing,  Sirrah  ! 

Song. 

Blow,  Boreas,  blow,  and  let  thy  surly  winds 

Make  the  billows  foam  and  roar  ! 
Thou  canst  no  terror  breed  in  valiant  minds  ; 

But,  spite  of  thee,  we'll  live  and  find  the  shore. 
Then  cheer,  my  hearts,  and  be  not  awed, 

But  keep  the  gun-room  clear  ; 
Tho'  hell's  broke  loose,  and  the  devils  roar  abroad 

Whilst  we  have  sea-room  here,  boys,  never  fear. 

There  now,  there's  life,  there's  soul,  there's  sense.  As 
I'm  a  living  man,  gentlemen,  the  rogue  has  foxed  me 
three  times,  one  after  another,  only  by  singing  this  song.' 

(D'Urfey,  Sir  Barnaby  Whigg,  1681,  Act  i.  scene  i. 
See  also  Pills  to  Purge  Melancholy,  vol.  i.  ed.  17 19, 
p.  96.) 

This  song,  which  was  written  by  D'Urfey 
himself,  was  set  to  music  by  Purcell,  and  may  be 
found    in    his    Orpheus    Britannicus.     The    same 


INTRODUCTION  lix 

collection  also  contains  Purcell's  song  of  Britons, 
strike  home,  from  the  opera  of  Bonduca,  1695,  which 
is  founded  on  Fletcher's  play  of  the  same  name. 
It  was  an  adjuration  to  the  ancient  Britons  to 
avenge  the  wrongs  which  their  country  and  Queen 
had  suffered  from  the  Romans,  but  seems  to  have 
been  adopted  in  the  navy  as  a  suitable  battle-song. 
An  eighteenth-century  pamphlet,  describing  an 
action  between  an  English  privateer  and  a  French 
ship,  relates  the  following  incident : — '  The  master- 
at-arms  had  one  of  his  arms  and  part  of  his  body 
torn  away  :  in  this  bloody  condition  he  was  carried 
down  to  the  surgeon,  who  saying  it  was  impossible 
to  save  his  life,  and  the  poor  man  finding  himself 
dying,  bravely  in  his  last  moments  sung  the  song 
of  "  Britons,  strike  home,"  and  expired  with  the 
words  in  his  mouth  '  (A  faithful  Narrative  of  the 
cruel  Sufferings  of  Captain  Death  and  his  crew, 
by  Samuel  Stoakes,  1757  [?],  p.  6). 

Songs  imported  from  plays  or  operas  were 
not  likely  to  become  popular  on  board  ship  until 
after  they  had  obtained  general  popularity  on 
shore.  One  of  the  characteristics  of  the  ballad 
literature  of  the  last  quarter  of  the  seventeenth 
century  is  the  great  increase  in  the  number  of 
ballads  describing  the  lives,  adventures,  loves, 
marriages,  meetings  and  partings  of  sailors.  Most 
of  them  were  written  for  consumption  on  shore, 
but  some  doubtless  became  popular  at  sea.  The 
printed  collection  of  ballads  contain  many  speci- 
mens. In  the  B agf or d Ballads  there  are  reprints 
of  The  AJariner's  Misfortune,  a  tale  of  a  ship- 
wrecked sailor  and  a  maiden  who  for  his  sake 
went  to  sea  in  disguise  ;  The  Seaman's  Adieu  to  his 
pretty  Betty,  and  The  Fair  Maid's  Choice,  which 
is  '  Of  all  sorts  of  tradesmen  a  seaman  for  me  ' 
{Bag ford  Ballads,  i.  247,  274,  289).     In  the  Box- 


Ix  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

of  It  stmtt,there  %\  SeVeraJ  Sro^  °f  ballads 
Til  r„'  ,  cUre-  ,The  Slxth  volume  contains, 
TV  u?  ft  Semnans  R^um  from  the  Indies- 
The  West  Country  Nymph;  Thi Fair  and  Loyal 

Bride  °{JTW'    and    Tke   Seam*"'S   S°™M 

inc LdeiT  still5' 1  44 ''    443',444)-      The    seve"th 

Delttt  It  c''ger  "Umber:  The  Mariner's 
JJetig/it,    or  the  Seaman's  seven    Wives;   Faithful 

J^yand  constant  Susan;  The  Gallant  Seaman's 
Resolution  (whose  full  intent  Was  to  try  Ms  fortune 
at  sea  and  at  Ins  return  marry  his  landlady)  °LoZ 
and  Loyally ,-   The  two  Loyal  Lovers  ;  A  FareweuL 

Ins  Love;    The  Seaman s  Advice  to  his  pretty  Betty 
living  near  Wapping ;  The  Sailor's  Depart JrefrTm 

on     To ,LrVe;,    ThC  C°mtant  m^"'*  Ra- 
tion    Loyal  Constancy  or  the  Seaman's  Love-Letter  ■ 

Virtue   the   Reward  of  Constancy;    The  Faithful 

Lovers  Farewell;  The    Valiant   Virgin,  orPhit 

Seaman  s  Folly,  m  marrying  one  so  quickly  for  what 
he  has  cause   to  repent  at  leisure;    The  Seaman's 
Renown  in  Winning  his  Fair  Lady  (pp  400-^59)    , 
The  eighth  volume  gives  us  :   The  Seaman's  Frolic' 

flalitt')/0''  f-  C/Pn'ain:  The  S~"  Com- 
paint  for  Ins  unkind  Mistress  of  Wappin*  ■   The 

mnTofma,d0f,  WapPi"g:  7/^  " Child  tLt's 
AM  III  °Wn'  beinZ  the  Seaman's  Complaint,  &c  ■ 
A  Mad  Marriage,  or  the  Female  Fancy  of  Deilford 

AKistl^  THere  are  a'S0  th-e/ver{r;? 
pp.  678,  86f)  ^  "  W°rih  tW°  °f  Another '(* 

It  was  obviously  impossible  to  select  more  than 
a  few  specmens  of  this  class  of  ballads  and* 
seemed    best    to   choose    three    or   four   which    for 

z,0rZrroas  were  of  more  hist°ricai  ^^,iz 

the  rest  (see  pp.  99,  IOI,  ,46),  and  to  add  { 


INTRODUCTION  lxi 

the    Pepvs    and    Druce    collections    not   previously 
the    rep>s   «  existence   of  so 

SStato  hVs'  Uind-iand  there  are  many  more 
of  them    n  the  Pepysian  collection,  besides  others 
°n    Lo  d   Crawford's   possession-proves  beyond  a 
doubt  the  orowth  of  popular  interest  m  the  navy. 
Another  P?oof   is  furnished  by  the  fact  that   con- 
femporary  dramatists   represented   sartors   m   then 
Zs  with  increasing  frequency.     Shakespeare  was 
one  of  the  first  to  do  this. .  Everyone  will  remember 
"he  shipwreck  scene  with  which  The  Tempest  opens, 
and  the  song  of  Stephano  : 

•The  master,  the  swabber,  the  boatswain  and  I, 

the  gunner  and  his  mate, 
Loved  Moll,  Meg,  Marian,  and  Marjory, 

but  none  of  us  cared  for  Kate, 

with    its  philosophical   conclusion,   '  To   sea,   boys 
and   let   her   go   hang.'     In   Davenant's  Stege  of 
Rhodes   performed  in   1656,  sailors  are  introduced 
whose   sentiments   would    do    credit    to    D.bdms 
heroes.     '  What,'  says  one  of  them, 

will  not  the  valiant  English  do      | 
When  Beauty  is  distressed  and  virtue  too  ? 

In    Charles   the    Second's   time   Wycherley   in 
,677  brought  upon  the  stage,  in  The  Plain  Dealer, 
Manley     a°  gentleman    'of   an   honest     surly    nice 
humour    supposed   first  in   the  time  of  the   Dutch 
war  to  have  procured  the  command  ofa  ship,  out 
of  honour,  not  of  interest,  and  choosing  a  sea  lite 
only  to  av'oid  the  world.'     There  is  also  Freeman 
Manley's   lieutenant,   '  a  gentleman   well   educated, 
but  of  a  broken   fortune.'     The  first  scene  intro- 
duce!so\ne  of  Manley's  crew,  who  speak  of  him 
affectionately  as  'our   bully  tar,'  and    tell   ho*   he 
sank  his  ship  that  the  Dutch  might  not  have  her 


lxii  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

nor  the  courtiers  beg  the  hulk.  Manley's  crew 
love  him  in  spite  of  his  surliness.  '  He's  always  as 
dogged,'  says  one,  'as  an  old  tarpaulin  when 
hindered  of  a  voyage  by  a  young  pantaloon  captain.' 
1  'Tis  true,'  answers  another,  '  I  never  saw  him 
pleased  but  in  the  fight,  and  then  he  looked  like 
one  of  us  coming  from  the  pay  table,  with  a 
new  lining  to  our  hats  under  our  arm.'  D'Urfey's 
Captain  Porpuss,  already  mentioned,  belongs  to  the 
year  1681.  These  instances  refute  Mr.  Gosse's 
statement  that  Ben,  in  Congreve's  Love  for  Love 
(1695),  ls  tne  '  first  °f  a  l°ng  nne  °f  stage  sailors.' 
On  the  other  hand,  Ben  represents  the  type  in 
its  most  perfect  shape.  He  is  a  younger  son,  '  half 
home  bred  and  half  sea  bred,'  designed  to  marry 
Miss  Prue,  whom  he  woos  in  technical  language. 
'  I  don't  stand  much  towards  matrimony.  I  love  to 
roam  from  port  to  port  and  from  land  to  land :  I 
would  never  abide  to  be  port  bound.'  Nevertheless 
he  confesses  Prue  has  charms.  '  You're  a  tight 
vessel  and  well  rigged,  an  you  were  but  as  well 
manned.'  This  promising  beginning  ends  in  a 
quarrel.  She  calls  him  a  '  stinking  tarbarrel,'  he 
terms  her  a  'dirty  dowdy'  (Act  iii.  sc.  vi.  vii.). 
But  if  Ben  has  not  the  gallantry  of  a  stage  sailor, 
he  has  the  aggressive  honesty.  '  Don't  think  I'm 
false-hearted  like  a  landsman,'  he  tells  another  lady. 
'  A  sailor  will  be  honest,  tho'  perhaps  he  has  never 
a  penny  of  money  in  his  pocket.  Mayhap  I  have 
not  so  fair  a  face  as  a  citizen  or  a  courtier,  but  for 
all  that  I've  as  good  blood  in  my  veins  and  a  heart 
as  sound  as  a  biscuit'  (Act  iii.  sc.  xv.). 

The  reign  of  Queen  Anne,  compared  to  that 
of  William  III.,  is  rather  barren  in  naval  ballads. 
Pepys  died  in  May  1703,  and  later  collectors  who 
took  less  interest  in  maritime  affairs  allowed  the 
songs    written    about    them    to    perish.       Yet    the 


INTRODUCTION  kui 

nf  the  reign,  if  marked  by  no  victory  equal 
history  of  the  reign  distinguished  by 

X  mXoriees    of    Rooke"  and    Leake  &and   many 
the    victories    01  of  the  time  1S 

n,inor  -c,ce^^dsT^nWs  disastrous  battle  with 
that  which  records  . ^noo  ible  to  discover 

^Std^tte/vlrst   tnan   that  given   in 

«**"!? SFkEi ft»  *e  f-e  of  Rooke 
.     F°ro  that  of  Benbow.     There   is,  it  is  true   a 

than   to  that   ot  honourable    Sir 

^ctttTaT his  Return  from  his  glorious  Enter- 
George  Rooke  at  ni  ■>     w  ess  ln  forcing 

fflSi  ^e'^ete  whh  Sweden  in  ,7oo  : 

•To  jarring  Crowns  repose  Thy  Navy  bnngs 

And  Quiet  broods  beneath  Her  Hal  yo  g  ^  forth 

KSf^dSn^twastefhe  North, 

«.  t«  refer  to  the  unsuccessful  attempt 
It  goes  on  toreter  to  .  auspic.ous 

on  Cadiz  in  IW».  ■£  l°  ^  nobkr  quarry 
£TS.  toT  flr^m^nd  one  more  worthy 
of  Rooke's  arms  : 

tu:.  Prize  was  worthy  lnee  ,  ami  «. 

Too  mean  a  Present  for  an  Enghsh  Queen. 

The   attack    on    the    allied I    fleet   on    Oct.   ». 
contemporary   poet  asters   «JB™£J  than  Rooke 

^-.sn^^sn^  "•  4°9' 4i5 ; 


lxiv  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Pills  to  Purge  Melancholy,  v.  115).  Added  to  this, 
Rooke's  battle  with  Toulouse  off  Malaga  on  August 
13,  1704,  gained  him  neither  credit  nor  popularity, 
and  afforded  an  opportunity  to  the  satirists,  of  which 
they  made  the  most  (id.  iv.  112,  113).  Specimens 
of  their  satires  are  given  on  pp.  153,  154. 

Nothing  has  survived  on  Leake's  exploits 
excepting  a  rather  poor  ballad  on  the  capture  of  a 
Spanish  provision  fleet  in  1708  (p.  156).  There  is 
also  a  spirited  ballad  called  The  Sea-fight,  or  the 
French  Prize  Taken,  published  in  1707,  which  pro- 
fesses to  describe  an  action  between  two  single  ships 

(P-  I58)- 

A  contemporary  poetaster,  describing  his  voyage 

to  Flanders,  inserts  some  verses  'in  the  praise  of 

those  heroes  commanding  the  fleet,'  whom  he  thus 

commemorates  : 

'  Russell  and  Benbow  I  own  to  be  braves, 

And  Shovell,  like  Neptune  bred  up  on  the  waves  ; 

Be  it  spoke  to  the  praise  of  the  bold  Captain  Jumper, 

When  he  met  a  French  ship  he  bravely  would  thump  her  ; 

Nor  ever  durst  Lewis,  or  Duke  of  Burgundy 

E'er  look  in  the  face  of  brave  Sir  John  Mundy ; 

Denbigh  and  Dursley  are  lords  of  great  merit, 

And  Jennings  possesseth  an  heroic  spirit' 

On  reciting  these  verses  to  the  captain  of  a  man- 
of-war,  with  an  appropriate  compliment  to  the  captain 
himself,  the  poet  received  an  effusive  welcome  on 
board.     The  captain  admitted  that  he  was  a  hero  too. 

'  I  am  of  the  blood  of  the  bold  Boanerges, 
And  fear  not  the  French  when  I  meet  them  on  surges  ; 
.  .  .  And  if  you  are  pleased  for  to  leave  your  own  nation 
Most  proud  I  shall  be  of  your  sweet  conversation.' 

Incidentally  the  poet  describes  the  ship  setting 
sail : 


JXTRODUCTIOX  i  . 

'Up  came  the  Boatswain,  with  Countenance  stern 
VVith  a  great  Pair  of  Whiskers,  and  Mouth  like fh, 

AnCHU1  'h  Ut,hl'S  ,W,hiStle'  and  "P  came  S    Sai  ers    hUrn' 
And  all  Hands  aloft  as  nimble  as  Taylors  • 

There  was  Toe-le-ho,  and,  Boys,  heave  away, 
Whilst  another  was  tearing  his  Throat  with,  Belay  ■ 
Ihen ./*,*/  Gtf,  /W:  A  damnable  Yawling  •        ' 
The  Boatswain  a  Swearing,  the  Master  a  Bawling 
Helm-a-lee,  ye  Landlubbard  Loobies  ■  b' 

^  ?™jt™>lings,ye  Fresh- Water  Boobies  ■ 
WV,  i  7  1'  M"»S*"t>y*  Lump  of  a  Dog,         ' 
Whilst  another  was  Singing  a  Tune  to  the  Log 
Such  Language  was  us'd  by  the  Tarpaulin-  Rabble 
Sure  never  was  such  a  Confusion  at  Bable  "  ' 

/p      a     z>    S  T1^S'  Jt  made  mv  Head  Giddy  • 
(Rands,  Pax  tn  Crumena  ;  or,  the  Trooper  tum'd  Poet 
'714.  PP-  6-7,  77,. /W,  ^V^T««a31o 

The    reign    of    Queen    Anne    was    marked    bv 
great  disasters  from  fire  and  storm.      I^he  treJ 

n°;To°the  °Vember  26'  I7?3'  tWCIve  vessels  beC 
ng  to  the  navy  were  totally  lost,  according  to  the 

venfent-r,^  £J°T   <*    3«9>     A   ^h#  on  the 

0    8        but        J  Pnmed;n.,the  B*gf°rd  Ballads 
/^   dreadful   fempest  or  a  Divine  Poem  on  the 

£?     "?    ^    ^  5™    W  Land  on   the    2jtA f  of 
November  i 703  describes  the  loss  of  four  men-of IS. 

'\TndealYh7  ?  ? C  Good^in-Sands  was  blown, 
>d  all  her  bailors  perished  but  one 

The°  vl/PiC?  °[  UTCck  was  was™  aboard 
lUe  Sterling-Castle.,  and  to  life  restor'd. 

1  Thus  while  a  Sinking  in  the  Sand  she  lay 
Adm  ral  Beaumont  to  his  men  did  say      * 

Fo^nn^r3?  Swim  mav  trv  vour  live*  to  save 
^or  no  rchefe  we  now  can  hope  to  have. 

d 


lxvi  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

'  Then  presently  the  Ship  in  pieces  Split, 
And  he  himself  upon  a  plank  did  sit, 
Floating  a  while  with  Waves  encompass'd  round, 
But  was  wash'd  off  and  in  the  Tempest  drown'd. 

<  The  warlike  Sterling-Castle  perish'd  then, 
And  all  her  crew  Excepting  Eight  Men, 
Who  by  God's  providence  got  safe  ashore, 
Amongst  whom  was  the  Man  preserv'd  before. 

'  Twice  cast  away,  and  twice  deliver'd  too, 
Here  may  we  see  what  the  Good  God  can  do, 
Nay  a  third  time  to  shew  his  Mercies  more, 
The  Boat  was  lost  that  carried  him  to  shore. 

'  The  Restoration  and  Northumberlandt 
Ere  morning  light  did  sink  into  the  sand, 
And  of  eight  Hundred  Souls  of  both  their  Crews, 
Not  one  escap'd  to  tell  the  dreadful  news. 

'  But  what  was  yet  more  Mournful  you  shall  hear 
On  board  the  former  as  it  doth  appear, 
The  Captain  had  his  Wife  and  Children  got, 
Which  were  seen  after  on  the  Seas  to  Float. 

'  Nay,  and  in  several  other  Ships  besides, 
There  many  Women  with  their  Husbands  died, 
Many  poor  Children  are  left  Fatherless, 
And  many  Widdows  mourning  in  distress. 

■  Of  men  of  war  Eleven  Sail  was  lost, 
Of  Merchant  men  two  hundred  on  our  Coast, 
Beside  the  Damage  done  to  many  more, 
And  seven  Thousand  Sailors  lost  therefore.' 

Over  6  ooo/.  was  collected  for  the  widows  and  orphans 
who  perished  in  the  storm.  The  order  authorising 
a  collection  for  this  purpose  is  printed  by  Mr.  W.  A. 
Bewes  in  his  Church  Briefs,  and  he  also  reprints 
the  ballad  quoted  above  (p.  239).  > 

A  disaster  very  little  less  in  its  magnitude  was 
the  casting  away  of  Sir  Clowdisley  Shovell  on  the 


INTRODUCTION  j 


xvn 


rocks    of    the    Scilly    Islands    upon    the    mVht     of 
October  22,  1707.     The  Association,  90,  which  was 
Shovell  s  flagship  ;  the  Eagle,  70 ;  the  Romney,  So  ■ 
and  the  Firebrand  hreship,  were  totally  lost  ;   two 
others,  the  Phoenix  and  the  St.  George,  struck  also 
but  came  off  without  breaking  up  (Clowes,  ii.  41  r)' 
1  he  best  account  of  the  incident  is  to  be  found  in 
a  pamphlet   by   Mr.    J.    H.    Cooke,    entitled    The 
Shipwreck   of  Sir   Cloudesley   Shove//,    read    at    a 
meeting  of  the  Society  of  Antiquaries,  February   1 
1885,  and   printed  at  Gloucester  in  the  same  year' 
No  contemporary  ballad  on  Shovell's  fate  has  sur' 
viyed,   but  the  British    Museum    contains  A    New 
Elegy  an  the  Lamented  Death    of  Sir  Cloudesley 
Shovel/,  from  which  the  following  lines  are  derived  : 

1  The  bulging  Ship  upon  the  Shore  stuck  fast 
And  scarce  two  Minutes  but  she  struck  her  last  ■ 
Was  quite  o'revvhelm'd  with  the  next  rolling  Wave. 
Aid  and  Endeavours  were  in  vain  to  save 
Whom  Fate  had  destin'd  to  a  Watery  Grave. 

■ 
There  Shovel  unamaz'd,  by  nature  Brave, 
Spreading  his  Arms  embrae'd  a  briny  Wave, 
And  where  he  had  reign'd  with  Honour,  made  his  grave. 

A  Man,  till  now,  that  e'er  was  fortunate 
Precisely  Good  and  regularly  Great  : 

• 
The  Nations  Trust,  and  Sailor's  joy  he  prov'd 
And  still  where  e're  [he]  came  he  was  belov'd  ■ 
None  ever  fought  her  Cause  with  more  success', 
None  e're  did  more— or  ever  boasted  less  ; 
His  early  valour  did  proclaim  his  Worth 
And  help'd  to  set  the  growing  Hero  forth  ■ 
At  Bantree,  Beachy  and  at  Malaga 
The  French  too  well  his  dauntless  Conduct  saw  • 
There  you  might  see  the  Brittish  glory  shine 
And  Shovel  break  th'  Impenetrable  Line.' 

d  2 


• 


-* 


lxviii         SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

A  third  disaster,  the  loss  of  the  Edgar,  seventy- 
gun  ship,  which  blew  up  at  Spithead  on  October  15, 
171 1  (Clowes  iii.  529)  is  the  subject  of  a  dialogue 
in  verse  of  which  a  copy  is  preserved  amongst 
Douce's  collections  in  the  Bodleian  Library.  It  is 
reprinted  at  p.  160. 

Another  incident  of  an  entirely  different  charac- 
ter requires  mention — that  is,  the  execution  of  the 
traitor  Captain  Thomas  Smith  in  1708.  Smith  had 
been  dismissed  from  his  command  and  fined  six 
months'  pay  in  September  1703  for  corruption, 
drunkenness  and  other  crimes.  In  1707  he  entered 
the  French  service,  and  apparently  acted  as  pilot  to 
the  squadron  of  French  galleys  which  captured  the 
Nightingale  frigate  off  Harwich  on  August  24, 
1707,  after  the  very  gallant  fight  which  is  described 
in  the  Memoirs  of  Jacques  de  Marteilhe  (ed.  by 
H.  Paumier,  1865,  p.  169).  Smith  was  given  com- 
mand of  the  captured  ship,  but  was  taken  during 
his  first  cruise  by  Captain  Nicholas  Haddock  in 
the  Ludlow  Castle.  He  was  then  tried  at  the  Old 
Bailey  on  June  2,  1708,  found  guilty  of  bearing 
arms  against  his  country,  and  executed  on  June  18, 
1708  (see  the  lives  of  Thomas  Smith  and  Seth 
Jermy  in  the  Dictionary  of  National  Biography ,  and 
an  article  on  The  Captains  of  the  Nightingale  in  the 
English  Historical  Revieiv  for  January  1889). 
The  Last  Farewell  of  Captain  Smith  (p.  154) 
purports  to  be  his  dying  speech. 

During  the  first  half  of  the  eighteenth  century 
a  change  in  the  character  of  the  sea  songs  produced 
becomes  gradually  apparent.  '  Songs  intended  to 
bring  before  shore-going  listeners  the  ways  of  sea- 
men,' as  Sir  Cyprian  Bridge  describes  them,  had 
been  produced  during  the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth 
centuries,  but  the  output  of  them  now  greatly  in- 
creased.    They  were  designed  not  merely  for  the 


INTRODUCTION  lxix 

ordinary  audience  to  which  ballad-writers  appealed, 
but  for  a  higher  class  of  hearers,  for  the  theatre  or 
the  drawing-room  as  well  as  the  street  and  the 
tavern.  To  hit  genteel  taste  they  became  more 
sentimental  in  tone  and  more  polished  in  diction 
and  metre.  They  were  written  mostly  by  profes- 
sional poets  or  men  with  some  literary  training. 
Gay  led  off.  His  two  celebrated  songs,  Black-eyed 
Susan  and  '  Twas  when  the  seas  were  7'oarin?y  mark 
the  beginning  of  the  movement  which  culminated 
in  the  productions  of  Dibdin.  Both  will  be 
found  in  Mr.  Stone's  Sea  Songs,  pp.  208,  209. 
Gay  had  many  imitators.  To  this  class  belongs 
Fair  Sally  loved  a  bonny  sailor  (p.  163),  which 
probably  suggested  Dibdin's  Token.  Set  to 
music  by  Maurice  Greene  it  enjoyed  great  popu- 
larity throughout  the  eighteenth  century.  Come 
and  listen  to  my  ditty  (p.  162),  less  artificial  in 
form,  obtained  a  still  longer  vogue,  and  was  printed 
as  a  broadside  as  late  as  the  beginning  of  the  nine- 
teenth century.  It  furnished  the  tune  for  Hosier s 
Ghost.  Two  other  songs,  if  Smollet  is  to  be 
trusted,  became  popular  in  the  navy  itself.  How 
pleasant  a  sailors  life  passes  (p.  164)  was  the 
favourite  of  Roderick  Random's  uncle  Lieutenant 
Thomas  Bowling.  A  quotation  from  it  supplied 
the  place  of  argument  when  the  lieutenant  per- 
suaded Roderick  to  go  to  sea. 

'  On  our  way  back  to  the  village,  my  uncle  spoke  not  a 
word  during  the  space  of  a  whole  hour,  but  whistled  with 
great  vehemence  the  tune  of  Why  should  zue  quarrel  Jot- 
riches,  etc.,  his  visage  being  contracted  all  the  while  into  a 
most  formidable  frown.  At  length  his  pace  increased  to 
such  a  degree,  that  I  was  often  left  behind  a  considerable 
way,  which  when  he  perceived,  he  waited  for  me  ;  and 
when  I  was  almost  come  up  with  him,  called  out  in  a 
surly  tone,  "  Bear  a  hand,  damme  ! — must  I  bring  to  every 


lxx  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

minute  for  you,  you  lazy  dog."  Then  laying  hold  of  me 
by  the  arm,  hauled  me  along,  until  his  good  nature  (of 
which  he  had  a  good  share)  and  reflection,  getting  the 
better  of  his  passion,  he  said,  "  Come,  my  boy,  don't  be 
cast  down, — the  old  rascal  is  in  hell, — that's  some  satisfac- 
tion ; — you  shall  go  to  sea  with  me,  my  lad. — A  light 
heart  and  a  thin  pair  of  breeches,  goes  thro1  the  world,  brave 
boys ;  as  the  song  goes — eh  !  "  Though  this  proposal  did 
not  at  all  suit  my  inclination,  I  was  afraid  of  discovering 
my  aversion  to  it,  lest  I  should  disoblige  the  only  friend 
I  had  in  the  world  ;  and  he  was  so  much  a  seaman,  that 
he  never  dreamt  I  could  have  any  objection  to  his  design  ; 
consequently,  gave  himself  no  trouble  in  consulting  my 
approbation '  (Roderick  Random,  chap.  v.  p.  23,  ed. 
1748). 

Another  song,  The  Boatswain  s  Whistle  (p.  165), 
which,  like  the  Bonny  Sailor,  was  set  by  Greene, 
was  the  delight  of  Commodore  Trunnion  and  his 
ex-boatswain  when  they  made  merry  together  in 
taverns. 

'  Come,  Pipes,  let's  have  The  Boatswain's  Whistle,  and 
be  jovial.'  This  musician  accordingly  applied  to  his 
mouth  the  silver  instrument  that  hung  at  a  buttonhole  of 
his  jacket,  by  a  chain  of  the  same  metal,  and  though  not 
quite  so  ravishing  as  the  pipe  of  Hermes,  produced  a 
sound  so  loud  and  shrill,  that  the  stranger  (as  it  were 
instinctively)  stopped  his  ears,  to  preserve  his  organs  of 
hearing  from  such  a  dangerous  invasion.  The  prelude 
being  thus  executed,  Pipes  fixed  his  eyes  upon  the  egg  of 
an  ostrich  that  depended  from  the  ceiling,  and  without 
once  moving  them  from  that  object,  performed  the  whole 
cantata  in  a  tone  of  voice  that  seemed  to  be  the  joint  issue 
of  an  Irish  bagpipe  and  a  sow-gelder's  horn  ;  the  commo- 
dore, the  lieutenant,  and  landlord  joined  in  the  chorus, 
repeating  this  excellent  stanza, 

Bustle,  bustle,  brave  boys  ! 

Let  us  sing,  let  us  toil, 

And  drink  all  the  while, 

Since  labour's  the  price  of  our  joys. 


INTROD  UCTION  Ixxi 

The  third  line  was  no  sooner  pronounced,  than  the  can 
was  lifted  to  every  man's  mouth  with  admirable  uni- 
formity ;  and  the  next  word  taken  up  at  the  end  of  their 
draught  with  a  twang  equally  expressive  and  harmonious. 
In  short,  the  company  began  to  understand  one  another.' 
{Peregrine  Pickle,  chap,  ii.,  p.  18,  ed.  1773). 

Smollet  published  Roderick  Random  in  1748, 
Peregrine  Pickle  in  1  7 5  1 .  Not  only  novels,  but  ballad 
operas,  in  imitation  of  Gay,  began  to  be  written  in 
which  sailors  were  the  heroes,  and  their  life  at  sea  or 
loves  on  shore  the  subject.  In  1745  appeared  The 
Sailor  s  Opera,  or  a  Trip  to  Jamaica,  written  by 
some  anonymous  imitator  of  the  Beggar  s  Opera, 
while  in  1763  Tommy  and  Sally,  or  the  Sailors 
Return  to  his  Sweetheart,  was  acted  at  Covent 
Garden.  George  Alexander  Stevens  wrote  two  : 
The  French  Flogged,  or  the  British  Sailors  in 
America,  1761,  and  The  Trip  to  Portsmouth,  1773. 
The  second  contains  several  good  songs. 

During  the  same  period  also  professional  poets 
of  higher  pretensions  began  to  make  the  navy  their 
theme.  The  reign  of  George  I.  furnished  little  for 
the  muse  to  celebrate.  That  of  George  II.  begins 
with  an  immense  blowing  of  literary  trumpets 
about  the  navy.  George  II. 's  speech  to  Parlia- 
ment on  January  27,  1728,  contained  a  passage 
inviting  the  two  Houses  to  consider  a  scheme  '  for 
the  increase  and  encouragement  of  our  seamen  in 
general  ;  that  they  may  be  invited  rather  than 
compelled  to  enter  into  the  service  of  their  country, 
as  often  as  occasion  shall  require  it.'  With 
that  object  the  King  recommended  an  addition  to 
the  funds  for  the  support  of  Greenwich  Hospital. 
Edward  Young  seized  the  opportunity  to  publish 
Ocean  :  an  Ode  occasioned  by  his  Majesty  s  royal 
encouragement  of  the  Sea  Service.  He  followed 
this    up    by  writing    in     1729    Imperium  Pelagi,   a 


Ixxii  SONGS  AND    BALLADS 

Naval  Lyric,  which  ends  up  by  an  admonition  to  the 
'  grovelling  sons  of  verse  '  not  '  to  tarnish  Britain's 
Naval  bloom '  by  inferior  strains  on  the  same 
subject.  Next  came  in  1733  his  Sea-Piece  con- 
taining (1)  The  British  Sailors  Exultation  (ii) 
His  Prayer  before  action,  and  last  of  all  in  1734  The 
Foreign  Address  ;  or  the  best  Argument  for  Peace. 
All  are  bad  poetry,  but  they  do  illustrate  the  influence 
which  the  strength  of  our  navy  exercised  upon  the 
maintenance  of  peace  during  a  period  in  which  it 
gained  no  public  triumphs. 

Young  wrote  from  the  point  of  view  of  the 
King's  ministers  :  another  poet,  James  Thomson, 
set  forth  the  case  of  the  opposition.  His  Britannia, 
written  in  1727,  but  not  published  till  1729,  was, 
says  Johnson,  '  a  kind  of  poetical  invective  against 
the  Ministry,  whom  the  nation  then  thought  not 
forward  enough  in  resenting  the  depredations  of 
the  Spaniards.'  It  recited,  as  Glover  was  to  do 
with  more  effect  twelve  years  later,  the  sufferings 
of  Hosier's  fleet  during  their  forced  inactivity, 
recalled  the  memory  of  the  Spanish  Armada,  and 
pictured  the  indignation  with  which  Blake  and  other 
'  immortal  spirits  '  must  behold 

'  their  feeble  sons 
Shrink  from  that  empire  o'er  the  conquered  seas 
For  which  their  wisdom  planned,  their  councils  glowed, 
And  their  veins  bled  through  many  a  toiling  age.' 

Thomson's  Rule,  Britannia  gave  him  a  more  lasting 
claim  to  remembrance  in  any  collection  of  naval 
literature.  It  was  a  song  in  the  masque  of  Alfred, 
written  by  Thomson  and  Mallet,  and  performed 
on  August  1,  1740,  in  honour  of  the  birth  of 
the  Princess  Augusta.  The  authorship  of  Rule, 
Britannia,  has  been  attributed  to  Mallet,  but  it  was 
published  in   1752  with  Thomson's  name  attached 


INTRODUCTION  lxxiii 

to  it,  and  the  evidence  is  on  the  whole  in  favour  of 
the  usual  attribution. 

The  feeling  which  inspired  Thomson's  opposi- 
tion to  Walpole's  Government,  and  his  attack  on  its 
pusillanimous  policy  towards  Spain,  was  shared  by 
the  populace  in  general.  It  appears  also  in  a  satire 
called  The  Pacific  Fleet  (p.  1 70). 

The  popularity  of  the  war  with  Spain  is  brought 
out  by  The  English  Sailor  s  Resolution  to  Fight 
the  Spaniards.  It  dwells  on  the  grievances  of  the 
merchants,  tells  the  story  of  Captain  Jenkins's  ear, 
and  ends  by  an  appeal  to  enter  under  Haddock 
(p.  172).  This  probably  refers  to  the  sending  of 
Rear- Admiral  Nicholas  Haddock  to  the  Mediter- 
ranean in  1737,  when  war  was  expected.  A  Neiv 
Song,  written  after  the  actual  outbreak  of  hostilities, 
begins  by  rejoicing  that  King  George  has  at  length 
resolved  to  correct  the  violence  of  the  Spaniards  : 

'  And  now  for  to  maul  'em  they  press  'em  and  haul  'em 
To  get  some  brave  fellows  to  man  our  brave  fleets. 
And  now  they'll  unpad  lock  the  sword  of  brave  Haddock, 
He'll  thump  all  the  Spaniards  that  ever  he  meets.' 

War  was  actually  declared  by  England  against 
Spain  on  October  23,  1739,  and  the  general  satis- 
faction with  which  that  step  was  welcomed  is  shown 
by  England's  Glory  in  the  Declaration  of  War 
(see  p.  174). 

The  first  engagement  of  importance  in  European 
waters  took  place  on  April  8,  1740,  when  the 
Princesa,  a  Spanish  70-gun  ship,  was  taken  by- 
three  of  Vice- Admiral  Balchen's  squadron,  viz., 
the  Lenox,  the  Kent,  and  the  Orford  (Clowes,  iii. 
267).  The  part  assigned  to  the  Irish  first  lieutenant 
of  the  Princesa  and  his  fellow-countrymen  on  board 
her  is  a  new  fact,  if  it  is  true  (p.  175). 


lxxiv         SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

Before  this  capture  took  place  Vernon,  on 
November  21,  1739,  had  taken  Porto  Bello.  No 
event  in  our  naval  history  called  forth  more  in- 
different verse.  On  p.  177  will  be  found  a  ballad, 
entitled  English  Courage  Displayed,  said  to  be 
written  by  a  seaman  on  board  the  Burford,  Vernon's 
flagship.  Hosier  s  Ghost  (p.  179),  which  is  the  most 
famous  of  all  the  celebrations  of  Vernon's  victory,  was 
an  attempt  to  turn  it  to  political  profit,  and  to  assist 
in  the  attack  which  the  '  Patriots '  were  making 
on  Walpole's  policy  by  recalling  Vice-Admiral 
Francis  Hosier's  blockade  of  Porto  Bello  in  1726-7 
and  the  heavy  losses  which  it  entailed.  '  It  is 
doubtful,'  says  Clowes,  '  whether  any  other  British 
fleet  ever  suffered  from  disease  so  severely  as  that 
of  Hosier  suffered  in  1726-7.  Its  horrible  ex- 
periences made  a  deep  and  lasting  impression 
upon  the  nation  ;  and  it  may  be  hoped  that  they 
have  had  the  effect  of  impressing  upon  all  later 
British  admirals  the  supreme  importance  of  taking 
systematic  and  rigorous  measures  for  preserving 
the  health  of  their  men.  During  the  two  years 
immediately  following  Hosier's  first  arrival  off  the 
Bastimentos,  the  fleet,  the  nominal  complement  of 
which  never,  roughly  speaking,  exceeded  4,750 
persons,  lost,  in  addition  to  a  flag  officer  and  7  or  8 
captains,  about  50  lieutenants  and  4,000  subordinate 
officers  and  men,  by  various  forms  of  sickness  '  {The 
Royal  Navy,  iii.  45). 

Vernon  attempted  to  follow  up  the  capture  of 
Porto  Bello  by  taking  Cartagena.  He  bombarded 
that  city  for  three  days  in  March  1740,  but  without 
producing  much  effect,  and  made  a  more  serious 
attack  upon  it  by  sea  and  land  in  March  1741. 
The  attack  began  on  March  9.  Fort  San  Luis  was 
taken  on  the  night  of  March  25  and  Fort  San  Jose" 
followed.      But    quarrels    broke    out    between    the 


INTRODUCTION  Ixxv 

naval  and  military  commanders.  The  attempted 
storm  of  Fort  San  Lazar  foiled,  and  on  April  14  it 
was  determined  to  abandon  the  siege  and  re-embark 
the  troops  and  guns.  At  the  beginning  of  April, 
however,  the  fall  of  the  place  seemed  imminent, 
and  its  capture  was  actually  the  subject  of  two 
ballads.     One,  entitled  British  Courage  Displayed, 

Admiral  Vemoris  Taking  of  Carthagcna,  is 
modelled  on  the  ballad  on  the  taking  of  Porto  Bello 
bearing  the  same  title.  The  other,  entitled  Ver- 
non s  Glory,  will  be  found  on  p.  181. 

Three  ballads  in  this  selection  relate  to  the 
general  actions  which  took  place  during  the  war. 
.Admiral  Mathews's  Engagement  against  the  Coin- 
bined  Fleets  of  France  and  Spain  narrates  the  inde- 
cisive battle  of  February  11,  1744,  which  led  to  the 
trials  of  Mathews  himself,  Vice-Admiral  Lestock, 
and  several  captains.  The  author  was  evidently  a 
partisan  of  Mathews  (p.  186).  The  Lucky  Sailor, 
or  the  Sailors  Invitation  to  go  with  Admiral  Anson, 
celebrates  the  victory  of  Anson  and  Warren  over 
the  French  fleet  under  La  Jonquiere  on  May  3, 
1747  (p.  195).  Hawke's  victory  over  M.  de  l'Eten- 
duere  on  October  14,  1747,  is  the  subject  of  Tit  for 
Tat,  A  Sea  Kick  for  a  Land  Cuff (p.  197).  A  song 
on  the  taking  of  Port  Louis  in  Hispaniola  by  Rear- 
Admiral  Charles  Knowles,  in  March  1748,  closes 
the  series  (p.  199).  Several  ballads  relate  to  minor 
Captain  Holmes  in  the  Sapphire  on 
1743,  destroyed  five  Spanish  privateers 
11.  "»ur.     The  ballad,  written  by  a  sailor 

who  lost  .  in  the  action,  dates  it  January  1744 

(p.  184).  .  true  date  is  given  in  Samuel  Boyse's 
.In  Historical  Revieu>  of  the  Transactions  of  Furope 
from  the  beginning  of  the  war  with  Spain  in  1739, 
published  in  1747,  vol.  i.  p.  390  ;  and  in  Beatson's 
Naval  and  Military  Memoirs,  i.  173.     During  1744 


lxxvi         SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

two  small  merchantmen  fought  extraordinarily 
gallant  and  successful  actions  against  French  priva- 
teers, which  were  celebrated  in  contemporary  ballads 
(pp.  187,  189). 

'  In  January  Captain  Cobb  in  the  Bacchus,  bound  from 
Oporto  to  Lynn,  being  attacked  by  a  Spanish  privateer,  of 
ten  guns  and  120  men,  maintained  a  fight  of  four  hours, 
with  only  fourteen  men  and  two  boys  ;  and  though  the 
privateer  boarded  him,  he  cleared  his  ship  by  killing  several 
of  the  enemy.  Soon  after,  one  of  his  shot  took  place  so 
luckily,  that  the  privateer  suddenly  foundered,  and  all  he 
could  do  was  to  save  about  thirty  of  the  Spaniards,  who 
the  next  day  treacherously  rose  upon  him.  However,  after 
an  obstinate  fight,  in  which  eleven  were  killed,  he  subdued 
the  rest  and  brought  them  into  Dartmouth,  where  this  brave 
man  died  of  the  wounds  he  received  in  this  last  action. 

1  In  June,  one  Richard  Hornby,  master  of  a  small 
vessel  bound  from  Yarmouth  to  Rotterdam,  mounting  six 
guns,  and  having  only  five  men  and  three  boys,  was 
attacked  on  the  coast  of  Holland  by  the  Marquis  de 
Brancos,  a  French  privateer  of  eighteen  guns  and  seventy- 
five  men,  against  whom  he  defended  himself  bravely  for 
four  hours,  repulsing  the  enemy,  who  attempted  to  board 
him  twice.  At  length  a  shot  of  his  entering  the  privateer's 
powder-room,  she  blew  up,  and  all  her  crew  perished. 
This  action  being  represented  by  the  Lords  of  the  Ad- 
miralty to  his  Majesty,  he  was  pleased  to  reward  Captain 
Hornby  with  a  gold  chain  and  medal  of  200/.  value.' 

(Boyse,  ii.  114.) 

To  this  period  also  belong  several  ballads  com- 
memorating disasters  at  sea,  or  escapes  from  ship- 
wreck. Admiral  Cavendish' s  distress  on  board  the 
Canterbury  (p.  168)  must  have  been  written  in  the 
year  1728.  It  is  interesting  because  its  metre  is 
probably  an  imitation  of  that  of  You  Gentlemen  of 
England,  while  the  refrain,  '  In  the  Bay  of  Biscay  O,' 
evidently  inspired  the  well-known  song  of  that 
name  written  by  Andrew  Cherry  (Stone,  Sea  Songs, 
p.  32).     The  latter  was  first  sung  by  Incledon  in 


INTROD  UCTION  Ixxvii 

an  operatic  sketch  entitled  Spanish  Dollars,  which 
was  produced  in  April  1805. 

Another  ballad  dealing  with  a  similar  subject  is 
The  Princess  Royal's  Escape  from  the  Goodwin 
Sands,  written  by  a  sailor  on  board  the  ship,  and 
describing  a  storm  which  took  place  in  February 
1744  (p.  190).  Two  others  deal  with  the  loss  of 
Sir  John  Balchen  and  the  Victory,  a  first-rate  carry- 
ing 108  guns,  wrecked  on  the  Caskets  on  October  4, 
1 744.  About  a  thousand  men  perished  with  Balchen 
(pp.  192-94). 

The  War  of  the  Austrian  Succession  closed  with 
the  Treaty  of  Aix-la-Chapelle  in  October  1748. 

The  Seven  Years'  War  commenced   in  America 

and   India,  and  spread   to    Europe.     War  between 

France  and   England  was  not  declared  till   May  18, 

1756,   though    on    June    8,    1755,   Boscawen's    fleet 

captured  two  French  men   of  war,  the  Alcide  and 

the  Lys,  off  Newfoundland.     As  early  as  February 

1755   there  was    'a  hot   press  '  for  seamen,  and  in 

July  Hawke  was  sent  to  sea  with  eighteen  ships  to 

intercept  the   French  fleet  under   Du  Guay,  and  to 

make  reprisals  upon   French  commerce.     The  story 

of  The  Lighterman s  Prentice  relates  to  this  cruise 

(p.   201).     Nearly   300    French    merchantmen    and 

about  8,000  seamen  were  captured  before  the  end  of 

1755  (Entick,  History  of  the  Late  War  i.  137,  187). 

1  'itain  s  Resolution  to  fight  the  French  also  refers 

^e  captures,    but  the   exultation    they  caused 

-«  short  time  (p.  203V      Byng's  action  with 

1  May  20  and  the  capture  of  Port 

ed  on  June  29,  dashed  all  these 

feeling    demanded     that     the 

hould  be  punished  with  death. 

ooems  and  epigrams  against 

■lity    to     the    Government 


/ 


lxxviii        SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

1  To  the  block  with  Newcastle  and  yard-arm  with 
Byng,'  is  the  chorus  of  one  ballad  appropriately  en- 
titled Block  and  Yard-arm.  A  collection  of  these 
was  published  at  the  time :  Bungiana  ;  o?r  an  As- 
semblage of  What-d' ye-call-em  s  in  prose  and  verse 
that  have  occasionally  appeared  relative  to  the  conduct 
of  a  certain  naval  commander,  1756.  The  French 
commander's  conduct  was  not  thought  much  better 
than  Byng's,  and  one  of  the  squibs  in  this  collection 
satirises  both.  It  is  entitled  The  Pacific  Engage- 
ment, a  poetical  dialogue  between  two  courteous 
admirals . 

1  {Byng.) 

At  last  we  are  met — but  I  hope  with  no  other 
Intent  or  design  but  to  spare  one  another. 
Though  we  seem  by  our  flags  to  be  desperate  foes, 
Let  us  part,  if  you  please,  without  banging  or  blows. 

'  {Galissonierei) 

But  since  fighting  and  wars  are  the  arts  which  we  trade  in, 
We  must  have  a  little  and  short  cannonading  ; 
Our  guns  must  be  fired  at  a  distance,  but  still 
With  no  wicked  intention  to  wound  or  to  kill.  .  .  .' 

Byng's  despatch  was  frequently  parodied  in  verse, 
and  one  of  these  parodies,  The  Letter  of  a  certain 
Admiral,  is  given  on  p.  207,  together  with  A  Rueful 
Story  (p.  209).      Blakeney  became  the  hero  of  t^ 
hour,  and  a   naval  officer  who  had   served  *v 
defence  of  Fort  St.  Philip  was  glorified  - 
in  A  New  Song  (p.  206).     Anotber 
down  to  tradition,  of  which  the 
words  has  been  preserved,  ace 
Port  Mahon,  and  contrasted  J 
courage  of  West  (p.  210). 

Next  year  another  fiasr 
to  fury,  namely  the  aborti 


INTRODUCTION  lxxix 

Rochefort  in  September  1757.  The  navy  did  its 
part  in  capturing  the  isle  of  Aix  ;  the  ships  could 
ot  get  near  enough  to  batter  Rochefort,  and  the 
soldiers  were  never  landed.  Sir  John  Mordaunt, 
the  commander  of  the  troops,  was  acquitted  by  .1 
court-martial.  The  Neiv  Song  written  on  the  Isle 
of  Aix  ip.  211)  is  apparently  intended  to  represent 
the  feelings  of  Hawke,  who  was  vexed  and  in- 
dignant at  the  decision  of  the  grenerals  not  to 
attempt  a  landing  (Burrows,  Life  of  Hawke,  ed. 
1896,  p.  1 38). 

The  year  175S  was  more  fortunate,  but  neither 
Pocock's  engagements  in  the  East  Indies  nor  the 
capture  of  Louisbourg  are  the  subject  of  ballads 
which  have  reached  us.  Keppel's  expedition  against 
the  French  colonies  in  Africa  attracted  more  atten- 
tion. One  ballad,  Bold  Sawyer,  relates  the  capture 
of  Goree,  which  took  place  December  28,  1758 
(Entick,  iii.  271 -8).  While  it  gives  the  names  of 
the  ships  engaged  in  the  expedition  correctly,  it 
calls  the  captain  of  the  Nassau  Sawyer,  though  his 
name  was  James  Sayer.  Another  ballad  relates 
the  fate  of  the  Lichfield,  Captain  Barton,  which  ran 
ashore  on  the  coast  of  Morocco  on  November  29, 
1758  (p.  214).  The  crew  were  made  slaves,  and 
were  not  released  till  April  1760,  when  they  were 
ransomed  for  170,000  dollars  by  a  special  ambas- 
sador sent  for  the  purpose  (Duncan,  The  Mariners 
Chronicle,  iii.  11S-30). 

The  year  1759  was  the  great  year  of  the  war. 
On  August  18  Boscawen  defeated  De  la  Clue, 
taking  three  ships  of  the  line  and  destroying 
two.  O.  November  20  Hawke  beat  Conflans  in 
Quiberon  l>o.}  Hawke's  victory  is  the  theme  of 
a  ballad  apparently  written  by  someone  on  board 
the  flagship  (p.  217).  Neptune* s  Resignation^  a 
pretentious    mythological     poem    'written    by    Mr. 


3xxx  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

Wagnall '  is  interesting  as  a  curiosity  (p.  218). 
Twenty-three  years  later  it  was  adapted  to  fit 
Rodney's  victory.  Two  other  pieces  of  verse — 
one  composed  by  Paul  Whitehead  and  sung  by 
Mr.  Beard  at  the  Theatre  Royal,  Covent  Garden, 
the  other  by  Robert  English,  chaplain  of  the 
Royal  George — are  reprinted  in  Hawke's  Life 
(pp.  253-56).  'Though  the  rude  billows  raged,' 
sang  the  chaplain,  '  so  close  we  engaged 

That  rarely  a  shot  was  misplaced  ; 
The  troops  on  the  land  chilled  with  horror  they  stand 
To  see  the  white  flag  so  disgraced. 

1  No  longer  they'll  boast  of  descents  on  our  coast, 
The  bright  Queen  of  the  main  to  reduce ; 

The  fair  English  rose  more  lovely  it  blows, 
While  droops  the  faint  Flower  de  Luce. 

'  Each  generous  heart  played  so  gallant  a  part 
That  glory  has  crowned  our  endeavours 

And  what  is  still  more,  the  lasses  on  shore 
Will  esteem  us  deserving  their  favours.' 

Boscawen  and  Hawke  had  effectively  ended  the 
French  threats  of  invasion,  for  which  purpose 
a  number  of  flat-bottomed  boats  had  been  built 
(Entick,  iii.  403  ;  v.  50).  It  is  to  this  project  that 
Garrick  contemptuously  refers  in  Hearts  of  Oak, 
a  song  in  his  pantomime  Harlequins  Invasion, 
which  was  produced  on  December  31,  1759.  The 
text  of  the  song  is  so  altered  in  the  current  versions 
that  it  seemed  desirable  to  print  it  in  its  original 
form  (p.  220).  The  only  French  landing  effected 
took  place  in  Ireland.  In  October  1759  M.  Thurot, 
with  six  frigates  and  1,300  troops,  eluding  the 
squadron  under  Commodore  Boys,  which  was  block- 
ading that  port,  set  out  on  his  adventurous  cruise. 
The    weather  frustrated    an  intended  descent  near 


/ 


INTRODUCTION  Ixxxi 

Londonderry,  but  on  February  21  he  landed  some 
troops  at  Carrickfergus,  but  put  to  sea  again  after 
occupying  the  place  for  six  days.  Next  day,  on 
February  28,  Captain  John  Elliot,  with  the  Aeolus, 
Pallas,  and  Brilliant  frigates,  engaged  the  three  ships 
that  were  left  of  Thurot's  squadron,  and  captured  them 
all  (Clowes  iii.  230;  Entick  iv.  319-333).  Thurot 
fell  in  the  fight,  and  the  ballad  called  Thurot's 
Dream  records  his  fate  (p.  220).  This  is  one  of 
the  rare  cases  in  which  oral  tradition  has  pre- 
served a  better  version  of  the  original  piece  than 
any  of  the  printed  broadsides. 

Another  minor  action  of  much  interest,  which 
took  place  a  year  earlier,  is  the  subject  of  the  ballad 
entitled  Gilchrist  and  Hothanis  Bravery  (p.  216). 
On  March  20,  1759,  the  Southampton,  32,  Captain 
James  Gilchrist,  and  the  Melampe,  24,  Captain 
William  Hotham,  engaged  two  French  frigates  and 
captured  one  of  them,  the  Danae,  a  40-gun  ship 
(Clowes,  iii.  301  ;  Entick,  iv.  266).  The  capture  of 
three  French  privateers  in  the  West  Indies  by 
Captain  O'Brien  and  Captain  Taylor  in  August  1760 
furnished  another  theme  for  indifferent  verse  (p.  222, 
cf.  Entick,  v.  55). 

After  1759  there  were  no  fleet  actions  in 
European  waters.  Hawke,  Boscawen,  and  Rodney 
blockaded  the  western  ports  of  France  through  1760. 
In  June  1761  the  island  of  Belleisle  surrendered 
to  a  naval  and  military  force  commanded  by  General 
Hodgson  and  Commodore  Keppel.  This  conquest 
is  the  subject  of  A  New  Song  on  the  Taking  of 
Belleisle,  but  the  song  touches  only  the  service  of 
the  soldiers.  Pitt  meant  to  tender  the  island  as 
an  equivalent  for  Minorca  in  the  negotiations  for 
peace  which  began  about  this  time.  For  the  rest 
of  the  war  the  interest  centres  in  the  West  Indies. 
Guadeloupe  had  fallen  in  May  1759;   Dominica  fell 

e 


Ixxxii        SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

in  Tune  1761-  Martinique  was  taken  in  February 
^  and  Grenada,  Stlucia,  and  St.  Vmcent  with 
Martinique. 

.  As  soon  as  this  news  to  the  French  King  was  brought 
HeS  immediately  put  on  his  mourning. coat 
Savins  "  Where  shall  I  go  or  where  shall  1  run . 
Tlfey've  ruined  my  nation,  alas,  I'm  undone. 

The  New  Song  on  the  Taking  of  Martinico  thus 
pictures  its  effect : 

.  And  now  for  Jack  Spaniards  we'll  show  glance. 
And  humble  their  pride  as  well  as  proud  France. 

S3  Mtmat:  S  °iaid   siege   to   Havana 
The  city  fell  «*JE  *  f  ft  ^emarkabt  for 

^f  %&&££-*>  -ended.     The 

K,1lfd    called     r^    Sailors     Dialogue     evidently 
ballad    cahea     J  expresses   their    views, 

written    about    this    date,    exp 

35*  si  ssi  Ft! fixes'- 


INTRODUCTION  \x 


XXlll 


A  fact  which  made  it  worse  was  that  a  very  limited 
number  of  subordinate   officers    received    half-pay 
and  that  the  rates  were  extremely  low  (Clowes   ii 
233  ;  in.  19,  340). 

It  is  evident  from  a  number  of  ballads,  oome 
belonging  to  the  middle,  others  to  the  later  part  of 
this  century,  that  there  was  considerable  discontent 
in  the  navy.  The  feelings  which  found  expression 
in  The  Sea  Martyrs,  in  William  III.'s  time,  were 
equally  strong  when  George  III.  began  to  rekni, 
and  were  to  manifest  themselves  later  in  the 
mutinies  of  1797  One  perennial  complaint  was 
he  badness  of  the  provisions  and  the  cheats  of 
he    purser       Musty    meat,    mouldy    biscuit,    hard, 

stinking  Suffolk  cheese,  petty-warrant  beer,  burgoo 
nt  for  nothing  but  to  make  a  sailor  spew,'  were  what 

he  provided,  'though  the  nation  allows  men  what's 

ntting  to  eat.      So  says    The   Say 'lor 's  Complaint; 

or  the   true    Character  of  the   Purser  of  a    Ship 

(P-  233),  and  every  casual  reference  to  a  purser  in 

any  ballad  is  always  abusive. 

A    still    greater   grievance  was    the  difficulty  a 

man  had  in  getting  his  pay : 

'  My  life  I  have  ventured  for  gold 
My  king  and  my  country  to  serve     • 

Now  the  wars  are  all  over, 

Brave  sailors  may  perish  and  starve,' 

is  the  sum  of  a  second  Sailors  Complaint  (p.  230) 
Often  the  sailor  received  a  ticket  for  his  pay,  which 
he  was  obliged    to  sell  to   an  usurer  at  a   ruinous 

f^C'f0r7aiPra?rice  Which  had  existed  sin^  the 
time  of  Charles   II.,  as  Pepys  witnesses,  but  which 

seems  to  have  been  checked  towards  the  middle 
of  the  eighteenth  century,  according  to  The  Ticket- 
Buyers  Lamentation  (p.  231). 


e  2 


lxxxiv       SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

A  third  grievance  was  the  severity  of  the  dis- 
cipline. A  pamphlet  quoted  by  Entick  (v.  59) 
explains  why  it  is  that  neither  by  bounty  nor 
compulsion  men  enough  for  the  fleet  can  be  found. 
'  The  reason  is  known  to  every  common  seaman, 
who,  whilst  Gazettes  are  filled  with  encomiums  of 
their  bravery  and  contempt  of  danger,  and  our 
senators  are  devising  the  wisest  means  for  their 
provision  and  support,  yet  languish  under  the 
greatest  hardships  and  the  most  abject  slavery, 
puzzled  and  perplexed  with  unnecessary  trifles,  hard 
wrought,  and  ill-used  by  almost  every  petty  officer 
of  but  a  month's  standing,  who,  ignorant  of  duty, 
whether  performed  right  or  wrong,  flourishes  his 
rattan  over  the  head  of  the  ablest  seaman,  and  acts 
the  tyrant  over  them  without  control.' 

Even  '  snotty  boys  of  midshipmen,'  some  hardly 
ten  years  old,  declares  one  ballad,  '  strike  many  a 
brave  fellow.'  In  another  a  sailor  declines  to 
volunteer,  and  gives  a  captain  his  reason  : 

Your  damned  rogues  of  officers  use  men  so  cruel, 
That  a  man  of  war  is  worse  than  hell  and  the  devil. 

(pp.  235,  239). 

Ill  usage  made  volunteers  scarce  and  increased 
the  discontent  of  pressed  men.  Complaints  against 
impressment,  and  references  to  the  abuses  to 
which  it  gave  rise,  become  increasingly  frequent 
during  the  latter  half  of  the  eighteenth  century. 
The  pressgang  makes  its  first  appearance  in  fiction 
in  1748  with  Smollet's  account  of  the  seizure  of 
Roderick  Random  on  Tower  Hill,  and  his  suffer- 
ings in  the  tender.  The  earliest  caricature  repre- 
senting the  operations  of  a  press-gang  is  English 
Liberty  Displayed,  which  belongs  to  the  year  1770, 
when   Wilkes   and    the    London    magistrates    were 


INTRODUCTION  lxxxv 

opposing  the  execution  of  press  warrants  in  the 
City  (Catalogue  of  Satirical  Prints  in  the  British 
Museum,  iv.  641).  Next  came  Gillray's  Liberty  of 
the  Subject,  published  October  15,  1779.  Our  ballads 
supplement  this  evidence  by  stories  such  as  those 
related  in  The  Lighterman  s  Prentice  and  in  ihe 
narrative  of  the  eighteen  Greenland  men  (pp.  201, 
226,  234-36,  249).  Another  ballad  called  a  Dia- 
logue betiveen  Will  and  Jack,  too  long  to  insert, 
describes  the  general  terror  which  prevailed  about 
1778  or  1779.  The  people  seem  all  run  mad,  'for 
fear  of  the  press  they  won't  lie  in  their  beds  ' ; 
farmers  and  millers  send  boys  and  girls  and  old 
men  to  the  markets  for  them  ;  carriers  and  carters, 
'  like  goats  in  the  mountains,  they  lie  in  the  fields  '  ; 
and  so  with  all  other  trades.  The  French  are  at 
sea  to  invade  us,  and  now  our  bold  sailors  must 
fight  for  all.  The  King  wants  men  and  will  find 
them  out. 

The  King  found  it  difficult  to  get  men,  not 
merely  because  his  service  was  unpopular,  but  also 
because  there  was  a  more  profitable  alternative. 

One  characteristic  of  the  wars  of  the  middle  of 
the  eighteenth  century  was  the  great  development 
of  privateering.  'The  privateers,' writes  Sir  J.  K. 
Laughton,  '  were,  in  their  day,  a  most  important 
item  in  the  naval  strength  of  the  country,  with  this 
additional  and  especial  merit,  that  they  were  most 
numerous  and  strongest  when  the  royal  navy  was 
weakest  or  most  severely  taxed.  ...  In  looking 
for  valuable  services  of  privateers  we  find  them  not 
in  the  periods  of  our  national  glory,  not  during  the 
wars  of  the  French  Revolution,  when  Howe  and 
Hood  and  Nelson  crushed  the  French  navy ;  not 
during  the  later  years  of  the  Seven  Years'  War, 
when  Hawke  and  Boscawen  and  Saunders  grandly 
maintained  England's  supremacy  ;    but  during  the 


lxxxvi       SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

war  of  American  Independence  or  the  war  of  the 
Austrian  Succession,  when  the  fortunes  of  the  navy 
were  at  a  low  ebb.  ...  In  such  times  of  disaster 
and  disgrace  the  rough  and  ready  work  of  the 
privateers  appeared  more  brilliant,  and  had  a  very 
real  national  importance '  {Studies  in  Naval  His- 
tory, p.  201).  Of  two  famous  privateer  captains, 
Fortunatus  Wright  and  George  Walker,  the  same 
author  gives  a  full  account,  and  the  exploits  of 
many  others  are  recorded  in  The  Liverpool 
Privateers,  published  by  Mr.  Gomer  Williams  in 
1897.  Their  captures  and  their  battles  were  some- 
times the  subject  of  verse,  and  therefore  a  few  ex- 
amples of  ballads  relating  to  them  have  been  in- 
serted. In  July  1745,  Captain  Talbot  in  the  Prince 
Frederick,  with  Captain  Morecock  in  the  Duke, 
captured  two  Spanish  ships  with  cargoes  worth 
over  3,000,000  dollars.  The  share  of  each  seaman 
amounted  to  ^850  (Laugh ton,  p.  237  ;  Beatson, 
Naval  and  Military  Memoirs,  i.  294  ;  Boyse,  An 
Historical  Review  of  the  Transactions  of  Ettrope, 
ii.  171).  This  capture  is  celebrated  in  England's 
Glory,  or  the  French  King  Stripped (p.  194).  At 
the  beginning  of  the  Seven  Years'  War  the  Terrible 
privateer,  commanded  by  Captain  Death,  was  taken 
by  the  French  privateer  Vengeance,  of  St.  Malo,  on 
December  27,  1756.  The  Terrible  had  twenty-six 
guns,  the  Vengeance  thirty-four.  The  crew  of  the 
Vengeance  numbered  350,  while  the  Terrible, 
weakened  by  sending  away  some  men  in  a  prize, 
could  muster  only  116.  Out  of  them  the  captain 
and  fifty  men  were  killed  outright,  and  over  forty 
wounded  before  the  ship  was  taken  (Entick,  History 
of  the  Late  War,  1765,  ii.  110).  So  desperate  a  fight, 
at  a  moment  when  the  popular  indignation  against 
Byng  for  not  fighting  it  out  with  La  Galissoniere 
was  at  its  height,  naturally  roused  enthusiasm,  and 


INTRODUCTION  lxxxvii 

Captain  Death  and  the  Terrible  were  celebrated  in 
the  ballad  and  the  poem  printed  on  pp.  204-5. 

A  common  form  of  song  is  one  which  takes  the 
form  of  an  invitation  to  enter  on  board  a  privateer 
under  some  popular  captain.  Of  this  there  are 
many  specimens  in  existence,  and  two  are  here 
reprinted  (pp.  225,  226).  The  Lord  Anson  and  the 
Hawke  were  two  Liverpool  privateers  which  made 
many  captures  in  1756  and  1757  (Williams, 
pp.  87-95).  The  Blandford  was  a  Bristol  ship, 
though  Captain  Stonehouse  seems  to  have  been 
a  Liverpool  man  (id.  p.  186).  In  these  and  similar 
invitations  the  prospect  of  plunder  naturally  holds 
the  first  place.     A  Newcastle  song  says  : 

If  we  should  meet  with  a  galloon, 
Our  own  we'll  make  her  very  soon, 
The  drums  shall  beat  and  music  play, 
To  the  Antigallican  haste  away. 

To  Charlotte's  Head  then  let's  repair, 
We'll  be  received  with  welcome  there  ; 
We'll  enter  then  without  delay, 
To  the  Antigallican  haste  away. 

(Rhymes  of  Northern  Bards,  by  John  Bell,  181 2. 
p.  320).  Another  song,  called  The  Sailors  Court- 
ship to  the  Ladys  Waiting- Maid,  treats  the 
argument  sentimentally : 

My  love  she  does  wait  on  a  lady  so  fair, 

And  I  do  belong  to  a  stout  privateer  ; 

Rich  prizes  I've  taken  since  the  wars  did  begin, 

From  the  lofty  monsieurs  and  brought  them  all  in. 

And  now  of  [these]  riches  my  love  shall  have  share, 
For  she  shall  be  drest  in  rich  silks  most  rare. 
With  ribbons  and  rings  my  jewel  I'll  deck, 
And  a  fine  chain  of  gold  to  hang  round  her  neck. 


lxxxviii     SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

And  before  that  my  money  begins  to  grow  scant, 
I'll  away  to  the  sea,  for  my  love  shall  ne'er  want, 
And  boldly  we'll  make  the  loud  cannons  to  roar, 
And  bring  home  rich  prizes  as  heretofore. 

You  pretty  young  maids  who  have  sweethearts  at  sea, 
Pray  take  this  advice  and  be  ruled  by  me, 
Slight  not  a  bold  sailor  while  he's  ploughing  the  main, 
Most  richly  he'll  clothe  you  when  he  comes  home  again. 

{Madden  Collection,  Cambridge).  The  prospect  of 
manning  a  privateer  depended  a  good  deal  on  the 
reputation  of  its  commander,  and  consequently  his 
character  was  often  set  forth,  as  in  the  ballad  called 
after  Captain  Barber  of  the  ship  Resolution  of 
Liverpool : 

Give  noble  Captain  Barber 

A  good  broadsword  in  hand  ; 
The  French  to  fight  [is]  his  heart's  delight 

When  Barber  gives  command. 
He's  kind  and  tender-hearted 

And  makes  his  foes  to  fly, 
He  governs  men  with  justice 

And  great  generosity. 

(Madden  Collection).     Or  again  in  A  New  Song  : 

Come  with  me  you  jolly  tars, 
We're  talking  of  the  Spanish  war, 
Come  my  boys  and  tack  about, 
We'll  put  the  Spaniards  to  the  rout. 

Chorus. 

I  beg  you'll  fill  your  pots  all  round, 
Success  to  the  fleet  that's  outward  bound  ; 
Likewise  unto  all  true  blues 
That  sails  along  with  Jemmy  Askew, 
For  he's  the  man  that's  bold  and  true, 
He'll  fight  for  his  King  and  country  too. 


INTRODUCTION  lxxxix 

Come  haste  away  to  the  rendezvous, 
There's  plenty  of  good  peck  and  booze  ; 
Askew  is  a  seaman's  friend, 
My  boys,  you'll  find  him  in  the  end. 

Chorus  as  before. 


When  the  American  war  began,  the  British 
public  expected  a  series  of  easy  victories — at  all 
events  wherever  the  navy  was  engaged.  The 
ballad  called  The  Brags  of  Washington  is  an  instance 
of  this  (p.  244).  Consequently  the  repulse  of  the 
fleet  under  Sir  Peter  Parker,  which  attacked  Charles- 
ton on  June  2S,  1776,  was  a  disagreeable  surprise. 
It  is  the  theme  of  an  English  ballad,  On  the  late 
Engagement  in  Charleston  River,  and  of  an  American 
song  parodying  Parker's  despatch  (pp.  245-47  ;  cf. 
Clowes,  iii.  372).  In  February  1778  France  con- 
cluded a  defensive  treaty  with  the  United  States, 
and  in  April  hostilities  between  France  and  England 
began.  The  Cruisers  celebrates  the  beginning  of 
this  stage  of  the  war  ;  The  Arethusa  its  first  action, 
namely,  the  fight  between  that  ship  and  the  Belle 
Poule  on  June  17,  1778  (pp.  247-248).  The  song, 
according  to  Sir  J.  K.  Laughton,  'sets  truth  and 
seamanship  alike  at  defiance,'  for  the  Arethusa 
fought  well  but  was  beaten,  and  would  certainly 
have  been  taken  or  sunk  if  the  approach  of  the 
English  seventy-fours  had  not  scared  the  Belle 
Poule  away  (Sea  Eights  and  Adventures,  p.  8).  It 
is  to  be  observed  that  the  crew  of  the  Belle  Poule 
numbered  230  not  500  men,  that  she  was  not  driven 
ashore,  and  that  she  was  ultimately  taken  by  the 
Nonsuch,  64  guns,  in  1780  (Clowes,  iv.  13,  99,  114). 
To  the  same  date  or  to  1777  belongs  a  song  On 
the  brave  Admiral  Lockhai't,  printed  in  Logan's 
Pedlar  s    Pack   (p.   yy).      Lockhart    took    the  com- 


xc  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

mand  of  the  Shrewsbury  in  1777.     The  verses  are 
to  be  sung  to  the  tune  of  Hearts  of  Oak. 

Ye  sons  of  old  Ocean  who're  strangers  to  fear 
On  board  of  the  Shrewsbury  quickly  repair ; 
Brave  Lockhart  commands  her,  rejoice  every  tar, 
For  Lockhart  commanded  the  Tartar  last  war. 

The  Shrewsbury  formed  part  of  the  Channel 
fleet  under  Admiral  Keppel.  When  Keppel  first 
put  to  sea  on  June  12,  1778,  the  public  voice  con- 
fidently predicted  his  success,  as  Admiral  Keppel 
Triumphant  shows  (p.  252).  On  July  27  he 
engaged  the  French  fleet  under  d'Orvilliers  off 
Ushant.  Two  songs  give  an  account  of  this  in- 
decisive engagement,  one  of  which  accounts  for  its 
indecisiveness  by  asserting  that  Keppel  had  secret 
orders  not  to  fight  (pp.  253,  255).  Then  followed 
recriminations  between  Keppel  and  Vice-admiral 
Sir  Hugh  Palliser,  ending  with  the  trial  of  Keppel 
by  court-martial  on  the  charges  of  misconduct  and 
incapacity.  On  February  11,  1779,  he  was  ac- 
quitted, and  the  charges  were  pronounced  malicious 
and  unfounded.  The  popularity  of  the  verdict  is 
attested  by  Keppel  Triumphant  and  Keppel  for 
Lver(pp.  255,  257). 

In  June  1779  Spain  declared  war,  and  during 
August  1779  the  combined  French  and  Spanish 
fleets  dominated  the  Channel.  Paul  Jones,  who  had 
already  signalised  himself  in  1778  by  attacking 
Whitehaven  and  capturing  the  British  sloop  Drake 
off  Carrickfergus,  sailed  from  L'Orient  on  August  14, 
1779,  with  a  little  squadron  of  four  vessels 
threatened  Leith  and  Edinburgh,  and  projected  an 
attack  on  the  shipping  in  the  Tyne.  On  Septem- 
ber 23  he  fell  in  with  a  fleet  of  merchant  shipping 
coming  from  the  Baltic  under  the  convoy  of  the 
Serapis  of  forty-four  guns  and  the  Countess  of  Scar- 


INTRODUCTION  Xci 

borough,  a  hired  vessel  armed  with  twenty  six- 
pounders.  The  capture  of  these  two  ships  by 
Jones  is  celebrated  in  Paul  Jones  the  Pirate. 
This  ballad  was  evidently  written  by  an  American 
or  someone  sympathising  with  the  American  cause. 
It  was  often  reprinted  in  England,  but  the  English 
versions  are  full  of  corruptions  and  blunders. 
Nevertheless,  by  comparison  of  the  various  ver- 
sions, it  has  proved  possible  to  obtain  a  more 
intelligible  text  than  that  commonly  given  (p.  259). 
Several  other  ballads,  including  a  Scottish  one  on 
the  same  subject,  are  reprinted  in  the  Roxbtcrgke 
Ballads,  and  with  them  a  political  song  suggesting 
that  Lord  Sandwich  and  Lord  North  wrere  in 
reality  worse  enemies  to  England  than  Jones 
(Roxburghe  Ballads,  viii.  330-35). 

As  the  struggle  was  for  America  and  the  West 
Indian  islands,  most  of  the  fleet  engagements  of  the 
latter  part  of  the  war  took  place  in  American  waters. 
On  July  6,  1779,  Vice-admiral  John  Byron,  with 
Vice-admiral  Samuel  Barrington  as  his  second  in 
command,  fought  an  action  with  the  French  fleet 
under  D'Estaing  off  Grenada,  and  got  very  much 
the  worst  of  the  fight.  A  ballad  on  the  battle, 
apparently  written  by  someone  on  board  the  Royal 
Oak,  expresses  the  view  generally  held  in  the  fleet, 
that  if  Barrington  had  commanded  instead  of  Byron 
the  result  would  have  been  different  (p.  258  ;  cf. 
Clowes,  iii.  434-40 ;  Mahan,  p.  367).  The  Bold 
Blades  of  Old  England  celebrates  the  capture  of 
Omoa  in  October  1779,  and  concludes  by  a  reference 
to  Rodney's  voyage  to  Gibraltar  in  December  1779 
and  his  capture  of  a  Spanish  convoy  about  January  8, 
1780  (p.  261  ;  cf.  Clowes,  iii.  448  ;  iv.  44).  On 
January  16,  1780,  Rodney  defeated  Langara  oft 
Cape  St.  Vincent,  taking  six  Spanish  ships  of  the 
line.     Another,  the  Santo  Domingo,  was  blown  up 


xcii  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Prince  William  was  serving  at  the  time  on  board 
the  Prince  George,  the  flagship  of  Rear-admiral 
Robert  Digby,  which  formed  part  of  Rodney's  fleet. 
Reports  of  the  courage  and  good  conduct  of  the 
Prince  during  the  battle  increased  the  popular  en- 
thusiasm which  welcomed  Rodney's  victory,  and 
inspired  the  song  entitled  The  Royal  Sailor 
(p.  262).  On  April  12,  1782,  took  place  Rodney's 
victory  over  De  Grasse,  which  brought  the  naval 
war  to  a  conclusion.  It  is  the  subject  of  a  singu- 
larly ungrammatical  ballad  called  Rodney  s  Glory, 
and  of  another  entitled  Hoods  Conquest  over  the 
Count  de  Grasse,  in  which  Rodney's  name  is  not 
even  mentioned  (p.  263).  Rodney  captured  five 
line-of-battle  ships  in  the  battle.  Four  of  them, 
with  three  English  74-gun  ships,  sailed  from 
Jamaica  for  England  at  the  end  of  July  1782, 
but  all  save  two  were  lost  on  the  way.  Two  of 
the  prizes,  the  Ville  de  Paris  and  the  Glorieux, 
foundered  with  all  hands ;  a  third,  the  Hector, 
was  lost,  though  200  of  the  crew  were  saved  by  the 
privateer  Hawke.  One  of  the  English  seventy- 
fours,  the  Ramillies,  became  unseaworthy,  lost  all 
her  masts,  and  was  abandoned.  Another,  the 
Centaur,  went  down  with  all  her  crew  except 
twelve  men  on  September  23,  1782.  The  ballad 
called  The  Loss  of  the  Centaur  (p.  265)  com- 
memorates the  escape  of  Captain  Inglefield  and  the 
twelve  survivors  (Laugh ton,  Sea  Fights  and  Ad- 
ventures, p.  153  ;  Clowes,  iv.  ^^>). 

Several  ballads  of  the  period  relate  to  engage- 
ments between  single  ships.  Captain  Farmer 
(p.  260)  describes  the  hard-fought  encounter  be- 
tween the  Quebec  and  Surveillante  off  Ushant  on 
October  6,  1779.  The  Quebec  took  fire  and  blew 
up,  and  Captain  George  Farmer  went  down  with 
his  ship. 


INTRODUCTION  xciii 

Others  relate  to  the  fortunes  of  American 
privateers.  On  the  American  side  the  laureate 
of  the  war  was  Philip  Freneau,  whose  poems 
appeared  for  the  most  part  in  newspapers  published 
in  America  during  the  war.  They  were  collected  and 
published  at  Philadelphia  in  1786,  and  republished 
in  England  in  1861  by  Russell  Smith.  Many  refer 
to  incidents  in  the  naval  war.  One  is  Captain 
Jones  s  Invitation  to  American  Backwoodsmen  to 
become  Sailors ;  another,  On  the  Memorable  Victory 
gained  by  the  gallant  Captain  Paul  Jones,  narrates 
his  capture  of  the  Serapis.  There  are  Stanzas  on 
the  new  American  frigate  Alliance  ;  On  the  Death 
of  Captain  Nicholas  Biddle,  commander  of  the  Ran- 
dolph, a  3 2 -gun  frigate,  blown  up  in  action  with 
the  British  64-gun  ship  Yarmouth  on  March  7,  1778. 
A  third  poem,  The  British  Prison  Ship,  tells  of  the 
capture  of  the  American  privateer  Aurora  by  the 
Iris  (once  the  American  frigate  Hancock)  and  the 
sufferings  of  the  prisoners  on  board  the  hulks 
Scorpion  and  Hunter.  The  Sailor s  Invitation  is 
an  encouragement  to  ship  under  Captain  Barney  on 
board  the  Hyder  Ally  privateer ;  another  ballad, 
describes  the  capture  of  the  sloop  General  Monk 
by  the  Hyder  Ally  on  April  8,  1782.  (Freneau's 
Poems,  pp.  144,  146,  164,  183,  235,  239,  241.) 
Another  collection,  Songs  and  Ballads  of  the  Ame- 
rican Revolution,  edited  by  Frank  Moore,  1856, 
contains  a  satirical  letter  in  verse  describing  the 
capture  of  the  South  Carolina,  a  40-gun  frigate,  by 
the  British  ships  Diomede  and  Quebec  on  Decem- 
ber 20,  1782  (Clowes,  iv.  91). 

The  major  operations  of  the  war  of  the  French 
Revolution  and  the  general  engagements  are  illus- 
trated by  numerous  ballads,  though  for  the  most 
part  of  very  inferior  quality. 


xciv  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

1  Now  Lord  Hood  is  sailed  with  his  gallant  crew, 
Bold  sailors  with  ships  of  the  line  twenty-two,' 

begins  Success  -to  the  Grand  Fleet,  or  the  Honest 
Britons  Prayer,  announcing  Hood's  departure  for 
Toulon  in  August  1793.  But  the  rest  is  too  poor 
to  quote.  The  temper  of  the  moment  is  illustrated 
by  some  lines  from  The  Taking  of  Tobago  (April 
J793)>  which  declares  that  '  for  murdering  of  Louis 
we  will  make  these  rebels  rue.'  But  for  the  most 
part  very  little  sign  of  any  feeling  against  the 
French  as  revolutionists  appears  in  popular  naval 
poetry ;  it  is  simply  the  old  national  hostility. 
'  We  11  make  them  to  knock  under  as  we  have  done 
before,'  says  the  same  ballad. 

Howe's  victory  on  June  1,  1794,  is  the  subject 
of  at  least  half  a  dozen  ballads,  two  of  which,  with 
a  song  written  by  a  lieutenant  on  board  the 
Bellerophon,  will  be  found  on  pp.  268-74. 

The  battle  of  St.  Vincent  on  February  14,  1797, 
is  celebrated  in  A  new  song  on  the  victory  over  the 
Spanish  Fleet  by  Admiral  Jervis,  and  in  Jervis 
taking  the  Spanish  Fleet.  According  to  the  author 
of  the  first,  the  tactics  of  the  British  ships  were 
simple  : 

'  They,  not  heedful  of  orders,  in  courage  confide  ; 
The  best  line  of  battle's  a  thundering  broadside.' 

The  second  thus  sums  up  the  result : 

'  Here's  a  health  to  Admiral  Jervis,  our  officers  and  crew  ; 
Spain  with  your  surprising  force  we've  made  you  for  to  rue. 
Two  of  your  hundred  and  twenties  and  two  of  eighty-four 
By  Britons  brave  were  soon  conveyed  safe  to  old  England's 
shore.' 

Neither  deserves  reprinting.  Duncan  was  more 
fortunate  than  Jervis,  and  at  least  four  ballads  on 


INTRODUCTION  xcv 

Camperdown  have  survived.  One  by  J.  Pratt  will 
be  found  on  p.  283.  Another  by  J.  More,  of  the 
Royal  Ayr  Volunteers,  to  be  sung  to  the  tune  of 
The  Garb  of  Old  Gaul,  is  printed  in  Ashton's  Real 
Sailor  Songs  (p.  9).  In  one  of  the  ballads  Duncan's 
religion  is  commended  : 

•  No  power  the  pride  of  conquest  has  his  heart  to  lead  astray  : 
He  summoned  his  triumphant  crew,  and  then  was  heard  to 

say, 
"  Let  every  man  now  bend  his  knee,  and  here  in  solemn 

prayer 
Give  thanks  to  God,  who  in  this  fight  has  made  our  cause 

His  care."' 

(The  Fight  off  Camperdown?) 

In  the  fourth  a  subscription  for  the  widows  of  those 
who  fell  in  the  battle  is  advocated  : 

'  Fighting  their  country's  noble  cause  they  near  the  Texel 

fell, 
No  mutiny,  but  gloriously  they  died  behaving  well.' 

( The  Widow's  Lamentation) 

On  the  battle  of  the  Nile  the  two  most  popular 
ballads — to  judge  from  the  frequency  of  the  reprints 
— were  The  Mouth  of  the  Nile  and  Battle  of  the 
Nile.     The  former  begins  ; 

'  It  was  in  the  forenoon  of  the  first  day  of  August, 
One  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety  eight. 

After  a  long  pursuit  we  o'ertook  the  Toulon  fleet, 
And  soon  we  let  them  know  we  came  for  to  fi^ht.' 


"£>' 


The    whole    is    reprinted    in    Ashton's  Real  Sailor 
Songs.     The  other  poem,  more  pretentious  in  style 
concludes  with  a  sort  of  apotheosis  : 

'  In  council  above  rose  the  deity  of  war, 
Determined  to  give  valour  due  renown, 

And  soon  on  the  brow  of  each  hardy  British  tar 
Was  placed  a  resplendent  royal  crown. 


xcvi  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

'  While  the  loud  trump  of  fame  on  earth  and  ocean  sounded 
With  Howe,  Jervis,  Duncan,  and  Nelson's  name  resounded ; 
But  the  battle  of  the  Nile  was  the  foremost  on  the  file, 
And  all  the  Angel  choirs  sang  the  glories  of  that  day.' 

Of  much  greater  interest  than  these  is  a  long 
narrative  ballad,  said  to  have  comprised  about  sixty 
verses,  of  which  tradition  has  preserved  merely  a 
fragment.  From  the  exactness  of  the  details,  it  was 
probably  written  by  some  sailor  in  the  fleet.  All 
that  survives  is  printed  on  p.  287. 

The  battle  of  Copenhagen  is  the  theme  of  two 
ballads  of  the  ordinary  type  (pp.  295,  296).  To 
these  has  been  added  the  original  version  of 
Campbell's  Battle  of  the  Baltic,  which  he  enclosed 
in  a  letter  to  Sir  Walter  Scott  written  on  March  27, 
1805  (p.  290).  'Though  wanting,'  says  Sir  J.  K. 
Laughton,  '  the  polish  which  afterwards  brought  it 
to  something  like  perfection,  though  many  of  the 
lines  are  bald,  harsh,  or  tumid,  some  of  the  ex- 
pressions are  happier  than  in  the  finished  work  ; 
and,  though  we  do  not  go  to  a  ballad  for  historical 
detail,  it  is  fuller  and  more  accurate '  ( The  Nelson 
Memorial,  p.  196).  Campbell  was  in  a  special 
sense  the  laureate  of  the  war  which  resulted  from 
the  coalition  known  as  the  Armed  Neutrality  of 
1 80 1,  and  he  published  in  the  Morning  Chronicle 
of  March  18,  1801,  his  ballad  Ye  Mariners  of 
England  headed  On  the  Prospect  of  a  Russian  War. 
The  original  of  this,  which  differs  only  in  a  few 
unimportant  phrases  from  the  later  version,  is  to 
be  found  in  Laughton's  Nelson  Memorial,  p.  175, 
and  in  Beattie's  Life  of  Campbell.  It  is  needless 
to  reprint  it  here. 

Nelson's  next  engagement  was  not  against  the 
Russians,  as  he  expected,  but  against  the  French 
flotilla  which  lay  in  the  harbour  of  Boulogne  pre- 
pared for  the  invasion  of  England.     This  disastrous 


INTRODUCTION 


XCV1I 


sSo?8/"^60^  AUgUSt  I5>  lS01'  and  is  the 
Jars  (p  297)  It  was  evidently  meant  to  appe  il 
to  the  charitable,  and  the  lines  :  PI 

'  All  you  that  relieve  us  the  Lord  will  you  bless 
l^or  reheving  poor  sailors  in  times  of  distress  ' 

are  a  too  familiar  ballad  formula.     There  are  mam, 

atpeeralsbal  Two0'   *»,  ^   ^"8   *<T,ffi 
appeals.      1  wo  examples  will  suffice  : 

'  A  SPiincrieskn°Cked  my  "OSe  °ff'  "  My  bowsprit's  gone  !  " 
"  YeVyVees^  kCpt  thGir  bl°WS  off>  thank  God  'twas  not  my 
Scrawftfa  these  words  I'd  outed,  glad  for  my  eyes  and 

A  splinter' burst  and  douted  both  my  two  precious  -lims 
I  m  blind  and  I'm  a  cripple,  yet  cheerful  would  I  sin- 
Were  my  disasters  triple,  'cause  why  ?  'twas  for  my  king.' 

(  The  Blind  Sailor.) 

'  ^u?1[nter  fr°m  our  shiP  was  forced 
Which  took  my  arm,  to  my  sad  loss 

And  now  I'm  found  to  wander  up  and  down 
beekmg  relief  where  it  can  be  found. 

we  all  are  seamen  to  our  right, 

And  on  the  seas  we  took  detight 

But  by  hard  fortune  you  plainly  see 

We  lost  our  limbs  on  the  raging  sea 

All  you  who  extend  your  charity, 

1  he  Lord  preserve  your  family.' 

{The  Seaflower.) 

The  last  action  of  importance  before  the  peace 
of  Amiens  was  that  between  Linois  and  Sir  James 
Saumarezm  the  Straits  of  Gibraltar  on  July  ,2    ,801 
(Clowes,  iv.  466).     The  ballad  on  it  is  a  parody  of 


xcviii         SOA^GS  AND  BALLADS 

the  despatch  in  which   Linois   is  said  to  have  re- 
nresented  his  escape  as  a  victory  (p.  29b).  . 

P     One  feature  in  this  war  was  the  attempted  in- 
vasion of  Ireland  by  the  French      A  flee. .appeared 
in  Bantry  Bay  under  Admiral  Morard  deGalle  in 
Decembe'r  1796;  a  landing ;was  actually  effected  at 
Killala  on  August  22,  1798,  by  General  Humbert 
T  quadron  under  Commodore  Bompart  was  engaged 
bvSir   John   Borlase  Warren  on  October  12,  I79»- 
A  number  of  ballads  relating  to  these  incidents  are 
collected  in  Crofton  Croker's  Popular  Songs  Illus- 
trative of  French  Invasions  of  Ireland Partj>"'-' £• 
published  by  the   Percy  Society  in   i»47.b«  »}ey 
are    too   entirely  political  in  their  character.     The 
best  is  one  beginning  : 

-  Now  fair  and  strong  the  south-east  blew,  and  high  the 
The  Fre"et  bounded  o'er  the  main  freighted  with 
Oh   where  was  Hood    and  where  was  Howe,  and  where 

Whe^CohJoys^dport,  or  Pellew,  and  a,,  their  gallant 

men  ?  ' 

The  question    asked  in  these  lines  formed  the 
basis  of  amotion  made  subsequently  m  Parliament. 
The  author  of  the  ballad  answers  : 
•  Nor  skill  nor  courage  aught  avail  against  heaven's  high 

ThedstormSarose  and  closed  our  ports,  a  mist  o'erspread 

the  seas.' 

Captain  Mahan,  however,  points  out  that  the 
inefficiency  of  the  British  dispositions  against  in- 
vasfon  waVs  to  blame  (Influence  of  Sealer  nfon 
the  French  Revolution  and  Empire  1.  360).  ine 
fleet  which  reached  Bantry  escaped  with  impunity 


INTRODUCTION  xcix 

excepting  the  Droits  de  1' Homme,  seventy-four, 
which  fell  in  with  Sir  Edward  Pellew,  in  the  Inde- 
fatigable, forty-four,  and  Captain  Reynolds  in  the 
Amazon,  thirty-six,  was  badly  mauled,  and  wrecked 
with  all  her  crew  on  the  coast  of  France.  This 
engagement,  which  took  place  on  January  13,  1798, 
is  celebrated  in  The  Amazon  Frigate  (p.  276). 
An  earlier  exploit  of  Pellew's,  the  capture  of  the 
Cleopatre  on  June  18,  1793,  is  also  the  subject  of  a 
ballad  (p.  267).  The  fight  between  the  Pique  and 
the  Blanche  on  June  4,  1795,  and  that  between  the 
Mars  and  the  Hercule,  on  April  21,  1798,  and  an 
action  fought  by  the  sloop  Arrow  in  September 
1799,  are  commemorated  in  the  same  way  (pp.  285, 

289). 

In  the  civil  history  of  the  navy  the  great  event 
was  the  mutiny  of  1797,  illustrated  here  by  five 
ballads.  The  New  Song  about  '  the  seventeen 
bright  stars  '  gives  a  sailor's  history  of  the  origin 
and  progress  of  the  mutiny  of  the  fleet  at  Spithead, 
and  was  evidently  written  about  the  end  of  May 
(p.  277).  British  Tars  Rewarded  expresses  the 
satisfaction  of  the  fleet  at  the  concessions  obtained 
from  the  Government,  and  The  Genius  of  Britain 
shows  the  sympathy  with  which  the  movement  was 
regarded  by  the  Radical  politicians  of  the  time 
(pp.  279,  280).  The  more  dangerous  mutiny  of  the 
ships  at  the  Nore,  which  began  on  May  20  and 
lasted  till  about  the  middle  of  June,  is  represented 
by  A  New  Song  on  Parker  the  Delegate  and 
The  Death  of  Parker  (pp.  281,  282).  The  latter 
is  one  of  the  commonest  of  all  ballads  relating  to 
the  navy,  and  the  frequency  with  which  it  was 
reprinted  seems  to  show  that  popular  feeling  was 
inclined  to  regard  Parker  as  a  hero  and  a  martyr. 

The  period  from  the  renewal  of  the  war  with 

France  in  May  1803  to  the  general  peace  in  181 5 

f  2 


c  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

supplies  few  ballads  of  any  merit,  and  the  more 
important  the  event  celebrated  the  worse,  as  a  rule, 
is  the  ballad.  Trafalgar  produced  at  least  a  dozen, 
of  which  two  are  selected  here— Nelsons  Glorious 
Victory  at  Trafalgar,  and  another,  entitled  The 
Death  of  Nelson,  which  begins  : 

'  Come  all  you  gallant  seamen  that  unites  a  meeting.' 

(pp.  301,  302).  A  third,  beginning  Arise  ye  sons 
of  Britain,  in  chorus  join  and  sing,  which  usually 
bears  the  title  of  Nelsons  Death  and  Victory,  is 
reprinted  by  Mr.  Masefield  (p.  131),  and  by  Mr 
Ashton  (p.  18),  under  the  title  of  The  Battle  of 
Trafalgar.  Mr.  Ashton  also  prints  a  fourth  entitled 
Nelson  and  Collingwood  (p.  19)-  There  is  yet 
another  Battle  of  Trafalgar,  which  begins  well : 

<  Come  all  you  British  heroes,  come  listen  to  my  song, 

It  is  of  a  noble  battle  by  our  brave  seamen  won  ; 

The  20th  of  October  that  was  the  very  clay 

The  combined  fleet  from  Cadiz,  my  boys,  did  put  to  sea  ; 

The  Euryalus  made  the  signal,  the  Defence  she  did  repeat, 

The  Mars  and  the  Colossus  conveyed  it  to  our  fleet. 

It  was  off  Cape  St.  Mary,  nine  leagues  from  the  shore, 

When  the  signal  they  saw  down  from  Cadiz  they  bore. 

On  Sunday  the  twentieth  so  early  in  the  morn 

We  espied  our  enemy,  my  boys,  four  leagues  astern  ; 

The  day  it  being  foggy  we  lost  them  all  again, 

But  on  the   twenty-first,  my  boys,  we  met  them  on  the 


mam. 


The    rest   of    the    narrative,    however,    is  a   mere 
catalogue  of  the  names  of  ships.  ( 

The  Death  of  Nelson,  better  known  as  J  was 
in  Trafalgar's  Bay,  is  from  John  Braham's  opera 
entitled    The  Americans,  which    was    produced  at 


INTRODUCTION 

g#s  s,/s  aft-  „j;  (B;»-rr 

ungrammatical     popular    ballaH \  Z\        gh  and 

deserve  reprinting  h,  spite  of  tr7f         Seems   t0 

.8o5S,S^.^^VeiC^  °"  N-mber  4, 
celebrated,  and  it   s I'L  ,      "eXt  ""portant  event 

work  (p.  3o4f   ^rsTescrTberrr^fc^T;5 
pendant  to  Trafalo-ar  '  /tv      d       ,         a  credi table 

Cochrane'*  attetj  to  £t>f £  f **V«   '7^ 
the  Basque  Roads  in  Anrlf?/  r,ench  fleet  '» 

subject  of  a  sont        r^    'M°  Was  als°  made  the 

due  praise  fGambier^nr6  ""^  '  ^  his 

good  or  evil.  The  re  t  7^'°^  e''ther  for 
are  cutting  out  fc^  5^*^ 
exploits  on  the  coast  „f  Q  •  •  ghts-  Yeos 
capture  of  the  Thetis  bvLS?am  £*  '8°^  and  th« 
■8o8,  were  both  he  d  worth   Ameth>'st   n  November 

(pp- 300, 3oS ;  ci-  iiz°::hvy  %iec;2Ton  in  verse 

by  Pre  fet  tK  f  *?  ™  Wide"ed 

Parliament    of    England'    'It         u  heS>™>"g  '  Ye 
United    States   a^nS   r States    *e   case   of    the 

-arises  the  na^h iTory^L  trt    T   ^ 
hearers  (p    ,08i      ■  n  •,, ,  for  American 

' a  favourite  son-  in  !"  *'"'  SayS  an  Amcrican, 
late  as  ,8,  andV?,  TY J™  °f  the  c°untry  as 
spirit  in  w^h  he  war™  Tg  :  "  *  r^Cthn  °f  the 
those  who  fought  i„  ,V  (C  r  r'4,™  regarded  by 
War  Ballads^ ,S8c,    ;  (,,r?  EJ*>«*on,  American 

°9.  i.    131).     The  capture  of  the 


cii  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Guerriereby  the  Constitution  on  August   19,  181  a, 
was  the  subject  of  an  American  song  subsequently 
reorinted  as  a  broadside  in  London  (p.  3°?)-      l  ne 
capture  of  the  Chesapeake  by  the  Shannon  in  June  1, 
% was  the  subject  of  three  English  ballads  two 
of  which  are  here  reprinted  (p.  31 0-     The  met  e f 
the   best   known  is  the  same  as  that  of  the   song 
on   the    Constitution   and  Guerriere,  and   one  was 
evidently    intended    as    an    answer    to   the   other 
tCcrh  it   appears   uncertain  which  was   published 
first"  The  last  of  the  series  narrates  the  capture  of 
the  President  on  January   15,   1815.  and   Is   cal  £ 
The  Endymions  Triumph.     It  just    mentions   the 
existence  of  the  rest  of  the  squadron   but  does  not 
attribute  any  part  in  the  result  of  the  fight  to  the 
Pomoneor  the  Tenedos  (p.  313)- 

Peace  was  not  wholly  welcome  either  to  the 
younger  officers  or  to  some  of  the  sailors.  1  n  1 S 1 5, 
OT763  there  were  some  who  openly  expressed 
Aeir  regret  One  example  is  a  parody  of  D.bdin. 
entitled  The  Midshipman's  Lamentation.  It  begins 
■  What  is  it  to  you  if  my  eye  I  am .piping .  ?  « 
the  peace  is  a  fact  he  trembles  to  think  what  his 
next  station  will  be  : 

'  Fnur  vears  of  my  time  I've  served  and  better, 

But  what's  thaito  me  ?     Why,  it's  not  worth  a  groat. 

Besides,  to  the  purser  I  am  a  great  debtor-         _ 
I  have  not  yet  paid  for  my  cockt  hat  ana  coat 

No  resource  will  be  left  him  except  to  turn  shoe- 
black : 

-  How  oft  in  the  cabin  I've  studied  navigation 
Out  of  a  book  writ  by  John  Hamilton  Moore, 

But  now  I'm  afraid  I  shall  soon  take  my  station 
wXmy  brushes  and  black  ball  close  to  my  door 
y  {Madden  Collection,  Cambridge.) 


INTRODUCTION  ciii 

A  sailor  took  a  more  cheerful  view  of  the  situation  : 

'  When  I  was  on  the  yard  the  topsail  for  to  furl, 

The  pilot  came  on  board  and  said  "  There's  peace  with 

all  the  world  "  ; 
But  if  war  should  come  again  I'm  damned  if  I  won't  enter, 
And  for  my  country  and  my  king  my  life  and  limb  I'll 

venture.' 
(Fragment  communicated  by  Sir  J.  K.  Laughton.) 

As  at  every  peace,  there  were  complaints  that  when 
the  sailor  was  no  more  needed  a  thankless  country 
turned  him  adrift  to  starve.  The  British  Tars 
enforces  this  moral  (p.  316).  Sailors  who  remained 
in  the  service  had  a  different  cause  of  complaint, 
namely,  the  increasing  strictness  of  discipline  in 
minor  matters.  'About  1806/ says  Clowes,  on  the 
authority  of  Lord  Dundonald,  '  undue  prominence 
began  to  be  assigned  to  what  is  still  vulgarly  called 
in  the  service  "  spit  and  polish."  Too  much  im- 
portance was  attached  to  "the  brightening  of  brass 
heads,  of  bitts,  and  capstan  hoops,"  and  too  little  to 
the  condition  of  the  ship  as  a  fighting  machine  ' 
(Royal  Navy,  v.  19).  After  the  peace  this 
tendency  increased,  and  the  discomforts  of  a  sailor's 
life  in  a  smart  ship  with  a  martinet  for  her  captain 
became  the  theme  of  several  ballads.  The  Fancy 
Frigate,  The  Saucy  Scy/la,  and  The  Vanguard  are 
examples  of  this  (pp.  316-21). 

An  older  grievance  now  ended.  Impressment  had 
risen  to  its  height  during  the  great  war  with  France. 
In  a  volume  of  Northumbrian  Minstrelsy  published 
by  the  Society  of  Antiquaries  of  Newcastle-upon- 
Tyne  are  many  songs  referring  to  the  press-gang. 

'  Here's  the  tender  coming  pressing  all  the  men  ! 
Oh,  dear  hinny,  what  shall  we  do  then? 
Here's  the  tender  coming  off  at  Shields'  bar, 
Here's  the  tender  coming  full  of  men-of-war.' 


civ  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Another  is  a  woman's  lament : 

'  Oh,  the  lousy  cutter, 
They've  taen  my  laddie  frae  me, 
They've  pressed  him  far  away  foreign 
\\"\   Nelson  ayont  the  salt  sea. 

'  They  always  come  in  the  night, 
They  never  come  in  the  day  ; 
They  always  come  in  the  night 
And  steal  the  laddies  away.' 

A  certain  Captain  Bover  was  particularly  energetic 
in  pressing  men,  of  whom  a  sailor  and  his  lass  thus 


smn- 


'  Where  hes  ti'  been,  maw  canny  ninny, 
Where  hes  ti'  been,  maw  winsome  man  ? 

Aw've  been  ti'  the  norrard, 
Cruising  back  and  forrard, 

Aw've  been  ti"  the  norrard, 
Cruising  sair  and  lang, 

Aw've  been  ti'  the  norrard,  cruising  back  and  forrard, 

But  daurna  come  ashore  for  Bover  and  his  gang.' 

(L.  Smith,  Music  of  the  Waters,  1888,  p.  112.) 

When  the  war  ended  the  press-gang  lost  its  very 
real  terrors,  though  their  memory  long  survived 
in  tradition.  It  became  a  subject  for  sentimental 
or  burlesque  treatment,  as  in  Oh  Cruel!  and  the 
Answer  to  that  song.  Its  special  function  in  the 
sentimental  ballads  printed  during  the  first  half  of 
the  nineteenth  century  was  to  prevent  the  course 
of  true  love  from  running  smooth  : 

'  This  jolly  young  sailor,  as  true  is  reported, 
Had  been  but  a  very  few  weeks  on  the  shore 

But  as  he  and  his  love  together  was  walking, 
By  a  large  press  he  from  her  was  tore.' 


INTRODUCTION  cv 

A  villainous  rival  invariably  availed  himself  of 
its  assistance  : 

'  A  friendly  voice  young  William  hailed  ; 
A  ruffian  gang  the  youth  assailed  ; 

'Twas  done  by  cursed  gold. 
The  tender  for  the  offing  stood, 
The  cutter  skimmed  the  yielding  flood, 

They  hatched  him  in  the  hold.' 

(  Young  William?) 

It  afforded  opportunities  for  the  more  romantic 
forms  of  the  sentimental  ballad,  in  which  the  maid 
disguised  herself  as  a  sailor  in  order  to  accompany 
her  lover  when  he  was  pressed  to  sea.  There  are 
several  seventeenth  and  eighteenth  century  ballads 
about  disguised  women  who  served  as  sailors,  and 
there  are  some  genuine  instances.  One  of  them, 
Hannah  Snell,  became  celebrated,  and  about  1750 
attracted  crowds  to  hear  her  sing  a  song  describing 
her  adventures  (p.  200).  In  the  street  ballads  of 
the  early  nineteenth  century  the  theme  is  a  per- 
petual favourite.  Other  ballads  of  the  same  period 
celebrated  the  courage  or  dexterity  with  which  the 
maiden  contrived  to  obtain  her  lover's  release. 
The  most  celebrated  example  of  this  class  of  ballad 
is  Billy  Taylor,  which  is  a  parody  on  an  earlier 
romantic  ballad  entitled  sometimes  William  Taylor, 
sometimes  The  Female  Lieutenant  (pp.  326-27). 
Another  example  is  Cawsand  Bay  (p.  328),  which  is 
a  late  imitation  of  an  older  ballad  called  either  The 
Valiant  Maid  Q>x  The  Undaunted  Lieutenant. 

Impressment  ceased  about  1835,  though  not 
formally  abolished,  and  its  cessation  seems  to  have 
been  somehow  connected  in  the  popular  mind  with 
King  William  IV.  His  sympathy  with  sailors  was 
the  theme  of  several  street  songs.  The  King  and 
the  Sailor  celebrates  his  affability  ;  Duke  Williams 


cvi  SOJVGS  AND  BALLADS 

Frolic  narrates  how  he  had  learned  to  sympathise 
with  the  sufferings  of  sailors  by  being  himself 
impressed.  Both  are  reprinted  in  John  Ashton's 
Modern  Street  Ballads,  pp.  228,  232. 

During  the  great  war,  the  patriotic  sea-song  and 
songs  about  sailors,  such  as  those  written  by  the 
Dibdins  and  their  imitators,  had  attained  enormous 
popularity  on  shore,  and  some  at  sea  too.  Charles 
Dibdin's  first  naval  song,  Blow  high,  blow  low,  was 
produced  about  1776,  and  he  continued  to  produce 
till  about  1 8 10.  It  was  said  by  a  biographer  that 
'  he  brought  more  men  into  the  navy  in  war  time 
than  all  the  press-gangs  could,'  and  he  boasted  in 
his  autobiography,  '  My  songs  have  been  the  solace 
of  sailors  in  long  voyages,  in  storm,  in  battle ; 
and  they  have  been  quoted  in  mutinies  to  the 
restoration  of  order  and  discipline  {Autobiography, 
i.  8).  Except  in  a  very  few  cases,  such  as  Tom 
Bowling,  this  popularity  was  not  lasting.  'It  is 
doubtful,'  says  Sir  C.  Bridge,  'if  they  were  even 
very  popular  in  the  forecastle.  At  places  of  enter- 
tainment on  shore,  some  of  them  may  have  been 
heard  with  pleasure  by  seamen,  but  the  great 
majority  of  them  were  either  never  favourites  afloat, 
or  at  any  rate  had  but  a  short-lived  popularity.  By 
the  middle  of  the  nineteenth  century,  when  the  old 
fore-bitter  had  still  a  vigorous  existence,  C.  Dibdin's 
songs  were  very  rarely  sung  on  board  ship'  (Intro- 
duction to  Stone's  Sea  Songs  and  Ballads,  p.  xiii). 

Novelists  and  playwrights  imitated  Dibdin. 
Captain  Marryat,  who  brought  together  a  few 
genuine  old  songs  in  Poor  Jack,  inserted  some 
nautical  songs  of  his  own  composition  in  Snarleyow, 
the  best  of  which  is  reprinted  in  this  collection 
(p.  322).  Others,  apparently  never  published,  which 
include  defences  of  flogging  and  impressment,  are 
to  be  found  in  his   Life  by  his  daughter.     Captain 


INTRODUCTION  cvii 

Chamier,  who  published  between  1830  and  1849  a 
number  of  novels  in  imitation  of  Marryat,  included 
in  them  many  nautical  songs  of  his  own  of  little 
merit.  Captain  Glascock  also  in  his  novels  and 
sketches  of  naval  life  printed  various  lyrics.  One 
seems  to  be  the  expression  of  a  genuine  feeling,  viz. 
The  Lieutenant's  Lament  : 

1  As  sure  as  a  gun 

We  shall  all  be  undone 

If  longer  continues  the  peace.' 

(Navat    Sketch   Book,    1834,    2nd    series, 
i.  267.) 

Of  nautical  plays  an  enormous  number  were 
produced  during  the  first  half  of  the  nineteenth 
century.  This  species  of  drama  reached  its  greatest 
vogue  about  1830.  The  most  successful  example 
of  it  was  Douglas  Jerrold's  Black-eyed  Susan ;  or, 
All  in  the  Downs,  played  at  the  Surrey  Theatre  in 
1829.  Another  successful  play  was  Fitzball's  Pilot, 
an  adaptation  of  Cooper's  novel  of  the  same  name, 
in  which  the  hero  was  transformed  from  an 
American  into  an  English  sailor.  The  success  of 
both  was  due  to  the  acting  of  T.  P.  Cooke,  who 
had  himself  served  some  six  years  in  the  navy  and 
was  declared  by  Christopher  North  to  be  '  the  best 
sailor  that  ever  trod  the  stage.'  '  Mr.  Cooke,'  says 
Fitzball  in  his  preface  to  The  Pilot,  '  added  a  new 
feature  to  the  sailor's  character.  It  was  that  of 
thoughtfulness  and  mystery — of  deep-toned  passion 
and  romance.' 

The  popularity  and  the  prevalence  of  conven- 
tional representations  of  sailors  and  artificial  naval 
lyrics  seem  to  have  put  an  end  to  the  production  of 
genuine  sea  songs.  In  the  vast  mass  of  street 
songs  issued  by  various  printers  between   181 5  and 


CV111 


SONGS  AND   BALLADS 


1870  there  are  many  about  sailors  at  sea  and  on 
shore,  but  they  are  mostly  amatory  or  romantic. 
The  most  interesting  are  stories  about  shipwrecks 
or  crudely  realistic  ditties  about  sprees  on  shore 
which  illustrate  the  history  of  the  merchant  service 
rather  than  the  navy.  Such  titles  as  The  Liverpool 
Landlady,  The  Sailors  Frolic  or  Life  in  the  East, 
and  Rolling  Down  Wapping  are  a  sufficient  indi- 
cation of  their  contents.  Amongst  this  miscellaneous 
mass  there  are  a  few  ballads  relating  to  incidents  in 
naval  history  occurring  between  181 5  and  the 
Crimean  war.  They  are  poor  things,  lacking  in 
the  spirit  and  the  vigorous  realism  which  often 
redeem  the  doggerel  verses  of  the  previous  century. 

For  that  reason  it  will  suffice  to  quote  a  few 
of  those  which  survive,  and  to  print  half  a  dozen 
of  the  best  as  specimens. 

The  bombardment  of  Algiers  by  Lord  Exmouth 
on  August  27,  18 1 6,  was  the  first  important  naval 
event  after  the  peace  of  181 5.  It  is  narrated  in  a 
ballad  printed  by  James  Catnach,  in  which  a  sailor 
who  had  served  on  board  the  Superb  undertook  to 
tell  '  how  we  fought  like  any  lions  bold  to  set  the 
Christians  free.'    "Three  verses  may  be  quoted  : 

'  On  the  twenty-seventh  of   August,  just  by  the  break  of 

We  espied  the  city  of  Algiers  to  windward  of  us  lay  ; 
«  All  hands,  all  hands  to  quarters,"  it  was  the  general  cry, 
"  Come  load  your  guns  with  round  and  grape  before  we 
draw  too  nigh." 

<  The  first  was  the  Queen  Charlotte  so  nobly  led  the  van, 
She  was  followed  by  the  Superb,  Captain  Atkins  gave 

command, 
The  next  was  the  Leander  with  all  her  warlike  crew, 
She  was  followed  by  the  Impregnable,  Rear- Admiral  of 

the  Blue.' 


INTRODUCTION 


cix 


Then  comes  a  catalogue  of  the  rest  of  the  fleet,  in 
which  the  six  Dutch  frigates  taking-  part  in  the 
action  are  not  forgotten.  «  Take  pattern  by  those 
English  lads,  they  show  you  gallant  play,'  said  the 
Dutch  admiral  to  his  crews. 

'  Now  there's  one  thing  more  that  I  relate,  which  is  to  be 
admired, 
At  five  o'clock  that  afternoon  we  set  their  ships  on  fire, 
Our  rocket  ships  and  bomb  ships  so  well  their  parts  did 
play 

The  Algerines  from    their   batteries  were  forced    to  run 
away.' 

The  last  verse  concluded  with  healths  to  Lord 
Exmouth  and  to  Captain  Atkins  (or  properly 
Captain  Charles  Ekins)  of  the  Superb. 

The  battle  of  Navarino,  fought  on  October  20, 
1827,    inspired    several    ballads.       The    Battle    of 
Navarino,  which   will  be  found  at  length  in  John 
Ashton's    Modem    Street    Ballads,    1888,    p.    225, 
begins  thus  : 

'You've  heard  of  the  Turks  and  the  Greeks, 

For  all  Europe's  been  told  their  bad  habits, 
How  they  cut  down  each  other  like  leeks, 

And  the  Turks  slaughter  children  like  rabbits  : 
But  John  Bull  could  bear  it  no  more, 

Said  he,  you  death-dealers,  I'll  stop  you, 
And  if  you  don't  both  soon  give  o'er 

I  swear  by  St  George  that  I'll  whop  you.' 

It  concludes  with  a  cheer  'for  t\e  staunch  gallant 
crew,  That  manned  the  brave  ship  the  Genoa  '—a 
76-gun  ship  whose  captain,  Walter  Bathurst,  was 
killed  in  the  battle— on  board  of  which  the  author 
perhaps  served. 


ex 


SONGS  AND   BALLADS 


A   second,    entitled    The    Glorious     Victory   of 
Navarino,  gives  more  details  : 

« On  the  20th  of  October  the  glorious  fight  began, 
Bold  Ibrahim  vainly  boasted  he'd  slaughter  every  man  ; 
But  Codrington  resolved  was  the  Asia  should  display 
A  bright  example  to  the  rest,  and  he  would  lead  the  way. 

The  Genoa  and  the  Albion  he  placed  by  his  side 

And  near  to  him  De  Rigny,  commander  of  the  Armide, 

The  Glasgow  and  the  Cambrian,  the  Dartmouth  and  the 

Rose  } 

Were  placed  in  fine  order  alongside  of  their  foes. 

A  fragment  of  a  third  ballad,  said  to  consist  of 
seventeen  verses  in  all,  is  quoted  by  Mr.  Kipling  in 
The  Black  Sheep  : 

'  Our  vanship  was  the  Asia, 
The  Albion  and  the  Genoa, 
And  next  came  on  the  lovely  Rose, 
The  Philomel  her  fireship  closed, 
And  the  little  Brisk  was  sore  exposed 
That  day  at  Navarino.' 

The  intervention  of  England  in  the  Syrian  war 
in  1840,  which  fills  so  large  a  place  in  James  Han- 
nay's  naval  novel,  Singleton  Fontenoy,  produced  a 
ballad  on  The  Capture  of  St.  Jean  d' Acre  which 
will  be  found  on  p.  333.  It  attributes  all  the  credit 
of  the  success  to  Charles  Napier,  and  makes  no 
mention  at  all  of  Sir  Robert  Stopford.  It  seems 
to  have  been  written  or  at  least  inspired  by 
someone  serving  on  board  the  Wasp,  from  the  par- 
ticularity with  which  it  relates    the  movements    of 

that  ship.  . 

The  popularity  of  Napier  comes  out  very  plainly 
in  the  whole  group  of  street  songs  and  ballads 
relating  to  the  Crimean  war. 


INTRODUCTION  cxi 

'We're  off  to  the  Baltic  with  Charley  Napeer 
To  singe  the  whiskers  of  the  great  Russian  bear  ' 

ran  the  chorus  of  a  song  which  a  friend  of  mine 
heard  some  sailors  singing  in  the  streets  in   18,4 

T  i  £  r"r  C,kar/t7>  is  the  title  of  another  ; 
lam  Baltic  Charley  and  no  Mistake,   is  that  of  a 

third  In  this  last,  the  author,  through  the  form  of 
a  dialogue  expresses  the  sympathy  of  the  British 
public  with  the  admiral  in  his  quarrel  with  Sir 
James  Graham  : 

'  "  I  have  sailed  too  many  miles  at  sea 
For  any  land-lubber  to  frighten  me, 
I  fought  in  Nelson's  victory 

Like  a  Briton,"  said  Baltic  Charley 
Said  Jemmy  to  me  «  What  have  you  done? 
W  ny  did  not  you  into  danger  run  ?  " 
"  I  wopped  the  Russians  at  Bomarsund 

And  a  victory  gained,"  said  Charley. 

•"Now,  Jemmy,  you  shall  see  by-and-by 
I  will  make  you  open  your  weather  eye 
And  like  a  pig  for  quarters  cry 

For  insulting  Baltic  Charley. 
Boatswain's  mate,  come  quickly  jump, 
Seize  old  Jemmy  up  to  the  pump, 
And  give  him  a  dozen  over  the  rump 

To  the  tune  of  Baltic  Charley."  ' 

of  ,l"0ther   f riGS  °f  this  Russian  SrouP  insists 
begins  VerSeS'     B°ld  NapUr>  for -Stance, 

'  Old  England  calls  her  sons  to  arms  the  Russian  bear  to 

Our  brave  old  admiral  commands  and  guides  the  British 

The  battle  calls    me  from    thy  arms,  let  not  my  Susan 

In  the  cause  of  liberty  we  go  to  sail  with  bold  Napier.' 


SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

•      Tnrh  and  Susan  and  Long  Lip 
Similar  in  type  *  M?**  *0\te   is    p«   **'<* 
*   Sir    ffidaSC  a  merchant's  daughter  of 
Z,^r5,  which  relates 
Southampton  city  : 

in  disguise  :  . 

•^  ««  Marv  my  charming  lairy,  ?__ 

«  He  said     Mary,  my  ou  mean  ?— 

Are  you  deranged  or  what  ca i   y 

In  spite  of  this  ^X%rennteTed  on  WdX 

opposition  of  ^J^d  for  a  long  time  as  a  man. 
Wellington,  and  passed. 

'  °%XA  "s^stf  seven  beUs, 
To  ngnt  tnc  discover 

Atnrmrh^faXDardane«es;' 

u  ■       tPars '  she  was  brought  on 
Shedding  '  large,  bnny  |£«      les  Napier,  who  was 
the  nuarter-deck  beiore  cmf 
much  moved  by  the  spectacle. 
1  ,  -a   "You  are  an  angel, 

YlS^r^-han  he." '  ^ 

And  thereupon  he  *ffifi^ffi^ 

young  ^dor  and  sent  bom  Napler 

•God  save  the  Queen  and  sir  ^ 

In   addition   to  th.s   there  are  ^ 

songs   of  a  purely   P^m  «c  "      re        ^ 
naval    glories  of   England   are  >     ?         ^.^  ^ 
The  most  famdiar  of  them 


INTRODUCTION  cxiii 

Blue.  'It  had  a  considerable  vogue  during  the 
Russian  war,'  writes  Sir  J.  K.  Laughton.  '  I  often 
heard  it  sung  up  the  Baltic  :  but  of  course  it  is  a 
music-hall  song.  It  was  always  understood  that  the 
'  red,  white,  and  blue '  meant  the  three  admirals' 
Hags.  Since  then  it  has  been  taken  to  mean  that 
these  are  the  national  colours — a  mistake  which  has 
led  to  a  thousand  absurdities.' 

Out  of  all  the  popular  songs  illustrating  the 
naval  side  of  the  Russian  war  only  one  deserves 
reprinting  in  this  volume.  That  is  a  song  called 
The  Russians  won't  come  out,  which  reflects  the 
general  disappointment  of  the  navy  at  the  absence 
of  any  opportunities  for  fighting  at  sea  (p.  336). 

In  order  to  illustrate  the  work  of  the  navy 
during  the  period  which  intervened  between  the 
close  of  the  French  war  and  the  beginning  of  the 
Russian  war  four  other  ballads  have  been  inserted. 
One,  entitled  General  Campbell,  describes  the  part 
taken  by  the  navy  in  the  capture  of  Rangoon  in 
1824.  A  second,  The  Borneo  Heroes,  narrates  an 
incident  in  the  suppression  of  piracy  in  the  Eastern 
seas,  viz.  the  fight  at  Malluda  Bay  on  August  19, 
1845.  The  third,  entitled  The  Slave  Chase,  illus- 
trates the  suppression  of  the  slave  trade.  From 
the  style  it  is  clearly  an  imitation  of  one  of 
Macaulay's  Lays  ;  however,  it  is  a  spirited  thing, 
and  was  a  great  favourite  with  the  late  Captain 
Montagu  Burrows,  who  served  for  some  time  in 
African  waters.  It  was  also  a  popular  favourite, 
and  was  very  often  reprinted  by  Fortey,  Such,  and 
the  later  publishers  of  street  ballads.  Arctic  ex- 
ploration is  illustrated  by  a  fourth,  which  celebrates 
the  return  of  Ross  in  1833  and  the  welcome  he 
received  at  home  (pp.  330-334).  Another  incident, 
in  the  search  for  the  North-West  Passage,  namely 
the    voyage    of   Sir   John    Franklin,  and    the  long 


cxiv  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

continued  efforts  to  discover  his  fate  also  attracted 
the  attention  of  the  writers  of  street  ballads  ;  but 
neither  Lady  Franklin  s  Lament  nor  the  Lament 
on  the  Fate  of  Sir  John  Franklin  and  his  crew 
deserve  reprinting.  The  last  was  written  in  i860; 
ten  years  later  the  old  street  ballads  practically 
became  extinct.  Once  they  had  been  the  instru- 
ment used  to  convey  information  about  public 
events  to  the  people,  but  that  function  had  now 
passed  to  the  cheap  newspapers.  Popular  opinion 
had  found  other  modes  of  expression,  and  as  songs 
they  had  been  superseded  by  the  more  taking 
melodies  of  the  music-halls. 

Sir  Cyprian  Bridge  speaks  of  the  '  general 
taking  over  of  the  songs  of  the  music-hall  of  late  by 
sailors.'  The  process  began  long  ago.  Captain 
Glascock  in  1834  noted  the  supersession  of  the  old 
naval  songs  by  ditties  fashionable  at  the  moment  on 
shore. 

'  For  the  whole  three  years  as  I  sarv'd  in  that  there 
March-d-Mind  man- d -war  I  was  tellin'  ye  about  I  never 
hears  so  much  as  a  sailor's  song — a  song  as  ye  could  call 
a  reg'lar  built  seaman's  stave.' 

'  No,  Ned,  you  doesn't  now  often  hear  the  staves  as  we 
used  to  sing  in  the  war — you  never  now  hears  Will  ye  go 
to  Caivsin  Bay,  Billy  Bo,  Billy  Bo ! — nor  the  Saucy 
Aretkusa — nor  the  Bold  Brittany — Black  colours  under 
her  mizen  did  fly — From  Ushant  to  Scilly  is  thirty-five 
leagues,  an'  many  more  of  the  sim'lar  sort.' 

'  No,  no,  Sam — you're  right  enough — your  March-d- 
Mind  men  must  now  come  your  simmy-dimmy  quiv'ring 
quivers — tip  ye  soft  sentimental  touches — sigh  away  like 
ladies  in  love,  an'  never  sing  nothin'  but  your  silly  sicknin' 
stuff,  as  often  used  to  frighten  the  geese  an'  make  'em 
cackle  in  the  coop,  for  all  the  world  like  the  comin'  of  a 
heavy  hurricane.  Moreover,  your  March-d-Mind  men 
never  will  sing  a  single  stave  as  admits  of  the  main  thing 
— for  what's  a  song  as  won't  allow  all  hands  to  jine  in 
reg'lar  coal-box  ?  (chorus).     No,  no,  your  March-d-Mind 


INTRODUCTION 


cxv 


men  haven  t,  you  may  depend  on  it,  the  mind  of  men— 

they  thmk  far  more  like  people  as  rigs  it  in  petticoa      nor 

hey  as  tog  in  trowsers.     Now  what  looks  mo  e young 

hady  sh  nor  to  see  a  fellor  with  a  fist  like  a  shoufder  of 

nTson,  "!T  h'S  n^Per  ab°Ut  a"'  Suiti»'  his  »"««  to 
euitar-'  Th  '""^  °Ut  "Strike-strike  the  light 
guitar.  Then,  agam,  we'd   another  chao-a   rhm 

too,  as  big  and  bulky  as  a  bullock-easinWt  off  an'' 
a""  bun  fl  °UK  'ike  a  'ank  b»'ding'-school  miss-"  Id  be 
sert  f  ^6)      "   '"  "  "  {N~*  Sketck-b°°k>  *"d 

Dana  noticed  the  same  phenomenon  amount 
merchant  sailors  about  1 834.  'I  shall  never  fori, ■ 
he  writes  ■  hearing  an  old  salt  who  had  broken  his 
voice  by  hard  drinking  on  shore,  and  bellowing  from 
the  mast-head  ma  hundred  north-westers,  sfnging 
with  all  manner  of  ungovernable  trills  and  quavers 
n  he  high  notes  breaking  into  rough  falsetto,  and 
in  the  low  ones  growling  along  like  the  dying-away 

hatchway0"™3'"      "  A"  ha"ds  ah°y  ! "   d™n  th" 
natemvu) ,      Oh  no,  we  never  mention  him  ! "  [sic]  : 

'  Perhaps,  like  me,  he  struggles  with 

Each  feeling  of  regret : 
But  if  he's  loved  as  I  have  loved, 
He  never  can  forget' 

The  last  line  he  roared  out  at  the  top  of  his  voice 
breaklng   each    word    into   half  a   dozen  syllables' 

everv  IZhrV  D°PU'f '  *"<*  Jack  was  called  °° 
Tr2  Vg  w  g'Ve,  them  his  sentimental  song ' 
( Two  Years  before  the  Mast,  chap,  xxix  )  g 

short-,^  f'7  u    iS  onlX  ^cessary  to  give  some 

Sees  ^„ecrPT,eedfrom  which  tL  — 

whiJhl  kT  -aCC°Unt  °f  the  coIle«i°ns  of  old  ballads 
which  exist  m  various  public  libraries  is  given  by 

burghe  Ballads,  published  by  the    Ballad    Society. 


cxvi  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

The  British  Museum  contains  the  collections  known 
as  the  Roxburghe  and  Bagford  Ballads,  besides 
others  of  minor  importance.  The  four  volumes  of 
the  Roxburghe  collection  contain  1,466  ballads,  the 
Bagford  collection  and  the  smaller  ones  referred  to 
about  1,500  more.  Since  1871,  when  Mr.  Chappell 
made  this  estimate,  others  have  been  added.  The 
Bodleian  Library  contains  the  collections  formed  by 
Wood,  Ashmole,  Rawlinson,  and  Douce,  numbering 
1,500  or  1,600.  At  Cambridge  there  is  the  Pepys 
collection,  which  consists  of  1,800  ballads,  and  is 
of  special  value  for  naval  history,  because  Pepys, 
by  virtue  of  his  office,  was  peculiarly  interested 
in  that  subject.  The  Society  is  under  great  obliga- 
tions to  the  Master  and  Fellows  of  Magdalene 
College,  Cambridge,  for  permitting  the  publication 
of  ten  of  the  Pepysian  ballads  in  this  volume,  and 
for  allowing  the  editor  the  opportunity  of  thoroughly 
searching  the  collection  for  the  purpose.  The  library 
of  the  University  of  Cambridge  possesses  a  large 
collection  of  ballads  printed  during  the  eighteenth 
century  and  the  early  part  of  the  nineteenth,  which 
has  proved  extremely  useful  as  supplementing  and 
continuing  the  older  collections.  It  was  formed 
by  Sir  Frederick  Madden,  and  has  been  hitherto 
neglected  by  nearly  all  students  of  ballads,  but 
deserves  to  be  searched  carefully  by  anyone  inte- 
rested in  the  later  history  of  the  English  ballad. 

The  University  of  Glasgow  possesses  a  collec- 
tion of  408  black-letter  ballads  presented  to  it  by 
Mr.  Euing.  The  Euing  collection  consists  mainly 
of  ballads  printed  during  the  reign  of  Charles  II., 
and  has  supplied  several  on  the  Dutch  wars  and 
other  incidents  of  the  period. 

Of  collections  in  private  hands,  that  of  the  Earl  of 
Crawford  has  proved  particularly  useful.  The  Society 
is  indebted  to  him  for  three  ballads  reprinted  in  this 


INTRODUCTION  cxvii 

volume,  and  the  editor  has  found  the  catalogue  of 
Lord  Crawford's  ballads  invaluable  throughout  his 
work  (Bibliotheca  Lindesiana  :  Catalogue  of  a  Col- 
lection of  English  Ballads  of  the  Seventeenth  and 
Eighteenth  Centuries.      Privately  printed,  1890). 

As  to  printed  collections  of  ballads,  the  editions 
of  the  Roxburgh*  and  Bagford Ballads,  published  by 
the  Ballad  Society,  have  been  freely  drawn  upon. 
The  labours  of  Mr.  Chappell  and  Mr.  Ebsworth 
have  alone  made  it  possible  to  select  and  put 
together  ballads  relating  to  any  particular  side  of 
English  history,  and  their  researches  into  the  ques- 
tions of  the  origin  and  text  of  the  ballads  have 
furnished  all  students  of  any  special  kind  of  ballads 
with  a  solid  basis  for  further  investigations.  To 
Mr.  Ebsworth  the  editor  is  further  indebted  for 
personal  assistance  and  encouragement. 

Two  other  collections  have  also  been  of  special 
service — The  English  and  Scottish  Poptilar  Ballads, 
edited  by  Professor  F.  J.  Child,  5  vols.,  Boston, 
1895,  and  Bishop  Percy  s  Folio  Manuscript,  edited 
by  Professor  J.  W.  Hales  and  Dr.  F.  J.  Furnivall, 
3  vols.,  London,  1868. 

There  are  also  several  special  collections  of 
Naval  Ballads,  to  which  references  are  frequently 
made  in  this  introduction  and  in  the  notes.  Of  these 
the  most  important  are  : 

( 1 )  Early  Naval  Ballads  of  England,  collected 
and  edited  by  J.  O.  Halliwell  for  the  Percy  Society 
in  1 85 1 . 

(2)  Sea  Songs  and  Ballads  by  Dibdin  and 
others.  London,  Bell  and  Daldy,  1863.  This 
contains  an  appendix  consisting  of  ballads  written 
before  Dibdin's  day. 

(3)  Real  Sailor  Songs,  collected  and  edited  by 
John  Ashton,  1891,  which  is  valuable  from  the 
number  of  modern  street  ballads  it  contains. 


cxviii         SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

(4)  Sea  Songs  and  Ballads,  selected  by  Chris- 
topher Stone,  with  an  introduction  by  Admiral  Sir 
Cyprian  Bridge,  Oxford,  1906. 

(5)  A  Sailor's  Garland,  selected  and  edited  by 
John  Masefield,  London  1906. 

One  word  as  to  the  text  of  the  ballads  and  songs 
contained  in  this  volume.  It  was  at  first  intended 
to  preserve  the  exact  spelling  of  the  originals.  In 
the  older  pieces  it  was  possible  to  do  this  because 
there  was  usually  an  authoritative  text  accessible, 
which  it  was  easy  to  follow  throughout.  But 
the  later  ballads,  issued  on  broadsheets  and  slips, 
and  frequently  reprinted  again  by  country  printers, 
swarmed  with  misprints  due  to  mere  carelessness 
which  it  would  have  been  unnecessary  and  un- 
desirable to  reproduce.  Moreover,  it  was  often 
needful  to  compare  several  versions  in  order  to 
obtain  a  tolerable  text.  For  these  reasons  a 
certain  number  of  obvious  errors  of  the  press  have 
been  corrected.  Some  variants,  with  comments  on 
the  text  of  the  ballads,  and  an  indication  of  the 
source  from  which  the  text  is  derived,  will  be  found 
in  the  notes  at  the  end  of  the  volume.  It  should  be 
noted  that  in  order  to  save  space  two  lines  have 
often  been  printed  as  one. 


CONTENTS 


l-ACE 

The  Battle  of  Sluys i 

Les  Espagnols  Sur  Mer        ........  3 

The  Pilgrims  Sea  Voyage         .         .  ...  -4 

Sir  Andrew  Barton 6 

John  Dory .  16 

The  Mariner's  Song 17 

A  Joyful  New  Ballad,  declaring  the  Happie  Obtaining  of  the 

Great  Galleazzo 18 

An  Excellent  Song  on  the  Winning  of  Cales  by  the  English       .  21 

The  Sailor's  Onely  Delight 23 

The  Seaman's  Song  of  Captain  Ward 25 

The  Song  of  Dansekar  the  Dutchman     .         .         .         .         .     .  27 

The  Famous  Sea-Fight  between  Captain  Ward  and  the  Rainbow  30 
The  Lamentable  Cries  of  at  least  1,500  Christians  (now  Prisoners 

in  Argiers  under  the  Turkes)    .         .         .         .         .         .     .  31 

The  Honour  of  Bristol 34 

Neptune  to  England 36 

On  His  Majesties  Fleet 36 

Upon  the  Great  Ship 37 

Saylors  for  my  Money  .........  40 

The  Jovial  Marriner ;  or,  the  Sea-man's  Renown    .         .         .     .  42 

Neptune's  Raging  Fury  ;  or,  the  Gallant  Seaman's  Sufferings     .  45 

The  Famous  Fight  at  Malago 47 

An    Elegie    on   the   Death  of  the   Right   Honourable   Robert 

Blake,  Esq 4S 

The  Valiant  Seaman's  Congratulation'  to  his  Sacred   Majesty 

King  Charles  II 53 

England's  Valour,  and  Holland's  Terrour 54 

Song  Written  at  Sea  ('  To  all  you  Ladies  now  at  Land  ')        .     .  56 

The  Royal  Victory 58 

The    English    Seaman's    Resolution ;    or,   the  Loyall    Subjects 

Undaunted  Valour     .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .     .  61 

England's  Tryumph,  and  Hollands  Downfall  ;   or,  the  Second 

Royal  Victory         .........  63 

Englands  Royall  Conquest       .         .         .         .         .         .         .     .  66 

Holland  Turn'd  to  Tinder  ;  or,  England's  Third  Great  Royal 

Victory 69 

A  New  Ballad  of  a  Famous  German  Prince  and  a  Renowned 

English  Duke 72 


cxx  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

PAGE 

The  Second  Part  of  the  Late  and  Terrible  Fight  on  St.  James's 

Day,  1666 76 

The  Dutch  Damnified  ;  or,  the  Butter-Boxes  Bob'd        .         .     .  79 

A  Song  on  the  Duke's  Late  Glorious  Success  over  the  Dutch     .  82 

News  from  the  Coast  of  Spain          .         .         .         .         .         .     .  83 

Captain  Mansfield's  Fight  with  the  Turkes  at  Sea       ...  86 
The    Algiers    Slave's    Releasement  ;     or,    the    Unchangeable 

Boat-swain         ..........  88 

The   Benjamin's   Lamentation   for  their   Sad  Loss   at  Sea  by 

Storms  and  Tempests    ........  89 

The  Treachery  of  the  Spaniards  of  Porto  Rico  to  the  Dartmouth 

Frigot  and  her  Company  .          .......  92 

The  Golden  Voyage  ;  or,  the  Prosperous  Arrival  of  the  James 

and  Mary 95 

The  Boatswain's  Call  ;  or,  the  Couragious  Marriner's  Invitation  97 

The  Undaunted  Seaman       ........  99 

The  Sea-Man's  Adieu  to  his  Dear ior 

The    Maidens'    Frolick  ;    or,  a    Brief  Relation  how  Six  Lusty 

Lasses  has  Prest  full  Fourteen  Taylors         ....  104 
The  Couragious  Commander  ;  or,  a  Brief  Relation  of  that  Most 

Noble  Adventure  of  Sir  Cloudesly  Shovell,  in  the  Bay  of 

Dublin 106 

The  Seamen's  Victory  ;  or,  Admiral  Killegrew's  Glorious  Con- 
quest over  the  French  Fleet  .         .         .         .         .         .108 

Torringtonia  ;    or,    a    New    Copy   of  Verses  on    the  Late  Sea 

Engagement      .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .     .  no 

England's  Triumph  at  Sea  (169 1 ) 112 

England's  Great  Loss  by  a  Storm  of  Wind 113 

Naval  Warfare  of  1692 114 

The   Royal  Triumph  ;  or,  the   Unspeakable  Joy  of  the  Three 

Kingdoms  .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         ..117 

Admiral  Russell's  Scowering  the  French  Fleet    .         .         .         .119 

A   Merry  New  Ballad  on  the  Great  Victory  over  the  French 

Fleet 120 

The  Valiant  Seamen's  Courage  .          .         .         .         .         .  125 

England's  Glory  in  the  Behaviour  of  Brave  Killeygrove  .         .     .  126 
An  Excellent   Song,  Call'd  The  Frighted  P'rench  ;  or,   Russel 

Scouring  the  Seas  .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .128 

The  Caesar's  Victory         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .     .  129 

A  Copy  of  Verses,  composed  by  Captain  Henry  Every        .         .  131 
Villany    Rewarded  ;    or,    The    Pirate's    Last    Farewel    to  -the 

World         ...........  133 

Captain  Kid's  Farewei  to  the  Seas  ;  or,  The  Famous  Pirate's 

Lament  ...........  134 

A  Satyr  on  the  Sea-Officers      .         .         .         .         .         .         .     .  137 

The  Sea-Martyrs  ;  or,  The  Seamen's  Sad  Lamentation  for  their 

Faithful  Service,  Bad  Pay,  and  Cruel  Usage         .         .         .140 

Advice  to  Young  Maidens  in  Chusing  of  Husbands         .         .     .  143 

The  Seamen's  Wives'  Vindication         ......  145 

Billy  the  Midshipman's  Welcome  Home          .....  146 

Admiral  Benbow  ..........  148 

The  Death  of  Admiral  Benbow 149 


CONTENTS 


CXXl 


The  Sailors  Account  of  the  Action  at  Vigo 

On  the  Sea  Fight  between  Sir  G.  R.  and  Toulouse,  1704        .     . 
A  Song  on  the  same      ......... 

The  Sailor's  Tragedy  ;  or,  The  Last  Farewel  of  Captain  Smith 
The  Valliant  Admiral  ;  or,  The  Wonderful  Success  of  Sir  John 

Leake    

The  Sea-Fight  ;  or,  The  French  Prize  Taken 

The  Loss  of  the  Edgar 

The  Sailor's  Complaint    ..... 
Fair  Sally  Lov'd  a  Bonny  Sailor  .... 
4  How  Pleasant  a  Sailor's  Life  Passes'     . 

The  Boatswain's  Whistle 

The  Downfall  of  Piracy 

Admiral  Cavendish's  Distress  on  Board  the  Canterbury 

The  Pacifick  Fleet 

The  English  Sailor's  Resolution  to  Fight  the  Spaniards 
England's  Glory  in  the  Declaration  of  War     . 

The  Taking  of  the  Princissa 

English    Courage    Display'd  ;   or,    Brave    News   from    Admiral 

Vernon       .......... 

Hosier's  Ghost      ......... 

Vernon's  Glory  ;  or,  The  Spaniards'  Defeat    .... 

The  Saphirah  (sic)  in  Triumph  ;  or,  British  Valor  Display'd 
Admiral  Matthews'  Engagement  against  the  Combined  Fleet 

of  France  and  Spain  ........ 

A  New  Song  in  Praise  of  Brave  Captain  Hornsby 

Captain  Cobb's  Bravery   ........ 

The  Princess  Royal's  Escape  from  the  Goodwin  Sands 

The  Loss  of  the  Victory  Man-of-War 

Disconsolate  Judy's  Lamentation  for  the  Absence  of  her  Tru 

Love  ...  on  Board  the  Victory  .  .  .  now  Missing 
England's  Glory  ;  or,  The  French  King  Stripped  . 
The    Lucky    Sailor  ;   or    The    Sailor's    Invitation   to   go   with 

Admiral  Anson       ....... 

Tit  for  Tat  :  A  Sea  Kick  for  a  Land  Cuff 

A  New  Song  on  Admiral  Knowls  taking  Port  Louis 

A  New  Song  sung  by  Hannah  Snell,  alias  James  Gray 

The  Lightermans  Prentice  Presi  and  Sent  to  Sea 

Britain's  Resolution  to  Fight  the  French 

The  Terrible  Privateer  ..... 

Captain  Death ........ 

A  New  Song  (on  Blakeney  and  Byng) 

The  Letter  of  a  Certain  Admiral       .... 

A  Rueful  Story  :  Admiral  B g's  Glory  ;  or,  Who 

First 

Admiral  Byng  and  Brave  West        .... 
A  New  Song  Written  on  the  Isle  of  Aix 

Bold  Sawyer 

Captain  Bartons  Distress  on  Board  the  Lichfield 
Gilchrist  and  Hotham's  Bravery      .... 
Hawke's  Engagement            ..... 
Neptune's  Resignation 


Run  Away 


'5' 
153 
154 
•54 

158 
160 
162 

163 
164 
165 
166 
168 
170 
172 
174 
175 

177 
179 
181 
184 

186 

187 
189 
190 
192 

'93 
194 

195 
197 

199 

200 

201 

203 

204 

205 

206 

207 

209 
210 
211 
212 
214 
216 
217 
218 


CXX11 


SONGS  AND   BALLADS 


Hearts  of  Oak 

Thurot's  Dream 

A  New  Song  on  the  Gallant  Behaviour  of  Captain  O'Brian  .  .  . 

and  Captain  Taylor        ........ 

A  New  Song  on  the  Taking  of  Havannah  .     . 

Lord  Anson  and  Hawke        ........ 

A  New  Song  on  the  Blandford  Privateer 

The  Sailors'  Dialogue  ......... 

Distressed  Men  of  War    ......... 

The  Sailor's  Complaint 

The  Sailor's  Garland  ;  or,  The  Ticket  Buyer's  Lamentation 
The  Saylor's  Complaint ;  or,  The  True  Character  of  the  Purser 

of  a  Ship 

The  Sailor's  Resolution  to  Fight  the  Spaniards  .... 

Jack  Tar  ............ 

The  Jolly  Sailor's  True  Description  of  a  Man-of-War 

New  Sea  Song  ('Our  boatswain  calls  out  for  his  bold  British 

heroes ')     .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .     . 

The  Humours  of  the  Royal  Billy 

The  Dolphin's  Return      ......... 

The  Brags  of  Washington  ........ 

On  the  Late  Engagement  in  Charles  Town  River  .         .         .     . 

Sullivan's  Island  ......... 

The  Cruisers    ........... 

On  Board  of  the  Arethusa 

An  Excellent  New  Song  Composed  by  Eighteen  Greenlandmen 
Admiral  Keppel  Triumphant  ;  or,  Monsieurs  in  the  Suds  .  . 
A  New  Song  ('  Come,  all  ye   valiant  seamen  that  plough  the 

raging  main ')  .... 

A  New  Song  in  Praise  of  Admiral  Keppel's  Fleet 
Admiral  Keppel  Triumphant         .... 

Keppel  for  Ever  ! 

A  New  Song  on  Admiral  Barrington    . 
Paul  Jones        ...... 

Captain  Farmer    ...... 

The  Bold  Blades  of  Old  England   . 

The  Royal  Sailor  ..... 

Hood's  Conquest  over  the  Count  de  Grasse 
The  Loss  of  the  Centaur       .... 

A  New  Sea  Song  called  The  Robin  Hood 
A  New  Song  on  the  Battle  Fought  between 

and  the  Cleopatra  .... 

The  Downfall  of  the  French  Fleet  . 
A  New  Song  on  the  Sea  Engagement  Fought  the  First  of  June 

Last        ........... 

A  New  Sea  Song  written  by  a   Lieutenant  of  the  Bellerophon 
The  Blanche  Frigate         ......... 

The  Amazon  Frigate    ......... 

A  New  Song  (The  Seventeen  Bright  Stars) 

The  Genius  of  Britain  ......... 

British  Tars  Rewarded    ......... 

A  New  Song  on  Parker  the  Delegate 


the  La  Nymphe 


PAGE 

220 
220 

222 
223 
225 
226 
227 
228 
23O 
23I 

233 

234 

2.35 
236 

239 

240 

243 

244 

245 
246 

247 
248 

249 
252 

253 
255 
255 
257 
258 
259 
260 
261 
262 
263 
265 
266 

267 
268 

270 
271 
274 
276 
277 
279 
280 
281 


CONTENTS 

The  Death  of  Parker 

A  New  Song  in  Praise  of  Admiral  Duncan 

The  Engagement  between  the  Mars  and  La  Hercule  ' 

Verses  written  on  board  H.M.S.  Astraea 

The  Battle  of  the  Nile     .  " 

The  Arrow  Sloop  of  War 

Copenhagen      .  ' 

Action  off  Copenhagen 

xkNw  S°",g j"l Lord  Nelson's  Victory  at  Copenhaee. 
The  Wounded  Tars  at  the  Siege  of  Boulogne  g 

France  Covered  with  Glory  "°u'ogne      . 

La  Loire  Frigate,  or  Yeo  !  Yeo  ' 
Nelson's  Glorious  Victory  at  Trafalgar 
I  he  Death  of  Lord  Nelson  .  ' 

Admiral  Strachan's  Victory 
?h!  ?"SaSemernt  between  the  Amethvst'  and  Thetis       " 

Ve  Parliament  of  England    . 

The  Constitution  and  Guerriere 

Shannon  and  Chesapeake 

Battle  of  the  Shannon  and  Chesapeake 

I  he  Endymion's  Triumph 

The  British  Tars 

The  Fancy  Frigate 

The  Saucy  Scylla 

The  Vanguard 

The  Port  Admiral     . 

Oh  !  Cruel     ..." 

The  Answer  to  Oh  I  Cruel 

The  Female  Lieutenant 

Billy  Taylor 

Cawsand  Bay 

General  Campbell 

The  Bold  Adventures  of  Captain  Ross 

The  Capture  of  St.  Jean  d'Acre 

I  he  Borneo  Heroes 

The  Slave  Chase 

The  Russians  Won't  Come  Out 

Don  t  Forget  Your  Old  Shipmate 


Notes    . 

Index  of  First  Lines 
Index  of  Proper  Names 
Index  of  Ships 
Index  of  Tunes 


CXXlll 


VAC* 

• 

•  283 

.  .  285 

. 

.  286 

.  287 

• 

.  289 

•  290 

•   295 

.  296 

• 

•  297 

.  298 

• 

•  300 

•  30' 

• 

•  302 

•  304 

•  305 

Roads  306 

•   307 

• 

•  308 

■  309 

• 

•  3'i 

•  312 

• 

•  3*3 

•  316 

•  316 

•  3'9 

•  320 

•  322 

•  324 

• 

•  325 

•  326 

• 

327 

328 

33o 

33* 

•  • 

333 

334 

• 

335 

336 

•  •  337 

■     339 

365 

37o 

382 

386 

SONGS   AND   BALLADS 


THE  BATTLE   OF  SLUYS 

Lithes  and  the  batail  I  sal  bigyn 

of  Inghsch  men  and  Normandes  in  the  Swin. 

Minot  with  mowth  had  menid  to  make 
buth  sawes  and  sad  for  sum  mens  sake  : 
The  wordes  of  sir  Edward  makes  me  to  wake, 
W  ad  he  salue  vs  sone  mi  sorow  suld  slake  ■ 
War  mi  sorow  slaked  sune  wald  I  sing  • 
When  God  will  sir  Edward  sal  vs  bute  bring. 

Sir  Philip  the  Valas  cast  was  in  care  ■ 

And  said  sir  Hugh  Kyret  to  Flandres  suld  fare 

And Ihaue  x\  Ormondes  inogh  to  leue  on  his  lare, 

All  l-landres  to  bnn  and  mak  it  all  bare  ■ 

tfot,  vnkind  coward,  wo  was  him  thare  :  ' 

U  hen  he  sailed  in  the  Swin  it  sowed  him  sare  ■ 

bare  it  tham  smerted  that  ferd  out  of  ffrance; 

lhare  lered  Inghs  men  tham  a  new  daunce. 

The  buriase  of  Bruge  ne  war  noght  to  blame  ; 
I  pray  Ihesu  saue  tham  fro  sin  and  fro  schame 
For  thai  war  sone  at  the  Sluse  all  by  a  name 
*  hare  many  of  the  Normandes  tok  mekill  grame. 

B 


SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

When  Bruges  and  Ipyre  hereof  herd  tell, 
Thai  sent  Edward  to  wit  that  was  in  Arwell ; 
Than  had  he  no  liking  langer  to  dwell, 
He  hasted  him  to  the  Swin  with  sergantes  snell, 
To  mete  with  the  Normandes  that  fals  war  and  fell, 
That  had  ment  if  thai  might  al  Flandres  to  quell. 

King  Edward  vnto  sail  was  ful  sune  dight 
With  erles  and  barons  and  many  kene  knight  : 
Thai  come  byfor  Blankebergh  on  Saint  Ions  night ; 
That  was  to  the  Normondes  a  well  sary  sight, 

Yit  trumped  thai  and  daunced  with  torches  ful  bright, 
In  the  wilde  waniand  was  thaire  hertes  light. 

Opon  the  morn  efter,  if  I  suth  say, 

A  meri  man,  sir  Robard  out  of  Morlay, 

At  half  eb  in  the  Swin  soght  he  the  way  ; 

Thare  lered  men  the  Normandes  at  bukler  to  play  ; 

Helpid  tham  no  prayer  that  thai  might  pray  ; 

The  wreches  er  wonnen  thaire  wapin  es  oway. 

The  Erie  of  Norhamton  helpid  at  that  nede, 
Als  wise  man  of  wordes  and  worthli  in  wede, 
Sir  Walter  the  Mawnay,  God  gif  him  mede, 
Was  bold  of  body  in  batayl  to  bede. 

The  due  of  Lankaster  was  dight  for  to  driue, 
With  mani  mody  man  that  thoght  for  to  thriue, 
Wele  and  stalworthly  stint  he  that  striue, 
That  few  of  the  Normandes  left  thai  oliue  ; 

Fone  left  thai  oliue  bot  did  tham  to  lepe  ; 

Men  may  find  by  the  node  a  -0  on  hepe. 

Sir  William  of  Klinton  was  eth  for  to  knaw  ; 

Mani  stout  bachilere  broght  he  on  raw. 

It  semid  with  thaire  schoting  als  it  was  snaw  ; 

The  bost  of  the  Normandes  broght  thai  ful  law  ; 
Thaire  bost  was  abated  and  thaire  mekil  pride, 
Fer  might  thai  noght  fle  bot  thare  bud  tham  bide. 

The  gude  Erie  of  Glowcester,  God  mot  him  glade, 
Broght  many  bold  men  with  bowes  ful  brade  ; 
To  biker  with  the  Normandes  baldely  thai  bade 
And  in  middes  the  fiode  did  them  to  wade  ; 

To  wade  war  tho  wretches  casten  in  the  brim  ; 

The  kaitefs  come  out  of  France  at  lere  tham  to  swim. 


LES  ESPAGNOLS  SUR  MER 

I  prays  Iohn  Badding  als  one  of  the  best  ■ 
Faire  come  he  sayland  out  of  the  suthrost 

The  schipmen  of  Ingland  sailed  fa]  swith 
Two  hundreth  and  mo  schippes  on  the  sandes 

Sir  Edward,  oure  gude  king  wurthi  in  wall 
Fagh.  wele  on  that  nude,  faire  mo   h"m  fall  • 

Thus  eome  oure  king  in  the  Swfn  tilftagude  dede 
This  was  the  bataile  that  fell  in  the  Swin 

God  assoyle  tha,re  sawls,  sais  all,  Amen       ' 
LES  ESPAGNOLS  SUR  MER 


B  2 


SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

That  now  er  driven  to  dale  and  ded  all  thaire  dede, 
Thai  sail  in  the  see-gronde  fissches  to  fede ; 
Fele  fissches  thai  fede  for  all  thaire  grete  fare 
It  was  in  the  waniand  that  thai  come  thare. 

Thai  sailed  furth  in  the  Swin  in  a  somers  tyde, 

With  trompes  and  taburns  and  mekill  other  pride  ; 

The  word  of  tho  weremen  walked  full  wide  ; 

The  gudes  that  thai  robbed  in  holl  gan  thai  it  hide, 
In  holl  than  thai  hided  grete  welthes,  als  I  wene, 
Of  gold  and  of  silver  of  skarlet  and  grene. 

When  thai  sailed  westward,  tho  wight  men  in  were, 

Thaire  hurdis,  thaire  ankers  hanged  thai  on  here  ; 

Wight  men  of  the  west  neghed  tham  nerr. 

And  gert  tham  snaper  in  the  snare,  might  thai  no  ferr, 
ffer  might  thai  noght  flit  bot  thare  most  thai  fine, 
And  that  thai  bifore  reved  than  most  thai  tyne. 

Boy  with  thi  blac  berd,  I  rede  that  thou  blin, 
And  sone  set  the  to  schrive  with  sorow  of  thi  syn  ; 
If  thou  were  on  Ingland  noght  saltou  win, 
Cum  thou  more  on  that  coste  thi  bale  sail  bigin  ; 
Thare  kindels  thi  care  kene  men  sail  the  kepe, 
And  do  the  dye  on  a  day  and  domp  in  the  depe. 

Ye  broght  out  of  Bretayne  yowre  custom  with  care, 
Ye  met  with  the  marchandes  and  made  tham  ful  bare  ; 
It  es  gude  reson  and  right  that  ye  evill  misfare, 
When  ye  wald  in  Ingland  lere  of  a  new  lare, 

New  lare  sail  ye  lere,  sir  Edward  to  lout : 

For  when  ye  stode  in  yowre  strenkith  ye  war  all  to  stout. 


THE  PILGRIMS  SEA    VOYAGE 

Men  may  leue  alle  gamys, 
That  saylen  to  seynt  Jamys  ! 
Ffor  many  a  men  hit  gramys, 

When  they  begyn  to  sayle. 
Ffor  when  they  haue  take  the  see, 
At  Sandwyche,  or  at  Wynchylsee. 
At  Brystow,  or  where  that  hit  bee. 

Theyr  hertes  begyn  to  fayle. 


THE   PILGRIMS  SEA    VOYAGE 

Anone  the  mastyr  commaundeth  fast 
To  hys  shyp-men  in  alle  the  hast, 
To  dresse  hem  sone  about  the  mast, 

Theyr  takelyng  to  make. 
With  "  howe  !  hissa  !  "  then  they  cry, 
"What,  howe,  mate  !  thow  stondyst  to  ny, 
Thy  felow  may  nat  hale  the  by ;  " 

Thus  they  begyn  to  crake. 

A  boy  or  tweyn  anone  up  styen, 

And  ouerthwart  the  sayle-yerde  lyen  ;— 

"  Y  how  !  taylia  !  "  the  remenaunt  cryen, 

And  pulle  with  alle  theyr  myght. 
"  Bestowe  the  boote,  bote-swayne,  anon, 
That  our  pylgryms  may  pley  theron  ; 
tor  som  ar  lyle  to  cowgh  and  grone 

Or  hit  be  full  mydnyght. 

"  Hale  the  bowelyne  !  now,  vere  the  shete  !— 
Cooke,  make  redy  anoon  our  mete, 
Our  pylgryms  haue  no  lust  to  ete,  ' 

I  pray  god  yeue  hem  rest  !  " 
"  Go  to  the  helm  !  what,  howe  !  no  nere  ? 
Steward,  felow  !  A  pot  of  bere  !  " 
"  Ye  shalle  haue,  sir,  with  good  chere 

Anon  alle  of  the  best." 

"  Y  howe  !  trussa  !  hale  in  the  brayles  ! 
Thou  halyst  nat,  be  god,  thow  fayles  ! 
O  se  howe  welle  owre  good  sh\p  sayles  ! " 

And  thus  they  say  among. 
"  Hale  in  the  wartake  !  "  "  hit  shal  be  done  " 
"Steward  !  couer  the  boorde  anone, 
And  set  bred  and  salt  therone, 

And  tary  nat  to  long." 

Then  cometh  oone  and  seyth,  "  be  mery  • 
Ye  shall  haue  a  storme  or  a  pery."  ; 

'  Holde  thow  thy  pese  !  thow  canst  no  whery 

Thow  medlyst  wondyr  sore." 
Thys  mene  whyle  the  pylgryms  ly, 
And  haue  theyr  bowlys  fast  theym'  by 
And  cry  aftyr  hote  maluesy, 

"Thow  helpe  for  to  restore." 


^ 

— 

-; 

SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

And  som  wold  haue  a  saltyd  tost, 

Ffor  they  myght  ete  neyther  sode  ne  rost ; 

A  man  myght  sone  pay  for  theyr  cost, 

As  for  oo  day  or  twayne. 
Som  layde  theyr  bookys  on  theyr  kne, 
And  rad  so  long  they  myght  nat  se  ; 
"  Alias  !  myne  hede  wolle  cleue  on  thre  !  " 

Thus  seyth  another  certayne. 

Then  commeth  owre  owner  lyke  a  lorde, 
And  speketh  many  a  Royall  worde, 
And  dresseth  hym  to  the  hygh  borde, 

To  see  alle  thyng  be  welle. 
Anone  he  calleth  a  carpentere, 
And  byddyth  hym  bryng  with  hym  hys  gere, 
To  make  the  cabans  here  and  there, 

With  many  a  febylle  celle. 

A  sak  of  strawe  were  there  ryght  good, 
Ffor  som  must  lyg  theym  in  theyr  hood  ; 
I  had  as  lefe  be  in  the  wood, 

Without  mete  or  drynk  ; 
For  when  that  we  shall  go  to  bedde, 
The  pumpe  was  nygh  oure  beddes  hede, 
A  man  were  as  good  to  be  dede 

As  smell  therof  the  stynk  ! 


SIR  ANDREW  BARTON. 


As  itt  beffell  in  m[i]dsumer-time, 

When  burds  singe  sweetlye  on  every  tree, 

Our  noble  king,  King  Henery  the  Eighth, 
Over  the  river  of  Thames  past  hee. 

Hee  was  no  sooner  over  the  river, 
Downe  in  a  fforrest  to  take  the  ayre, 

But  eighty  merchants  of  London  cittye 
Came  kneeling  before  King  Henery  there. 


SIR  ANDREW  BARTON 

'  O  yee  are  welcome,  rich  merchants, 

[Good  saylers,  welcome  unto  me  ! '] 
They  swore  by  the  rood  the  were  saylers  good, 

But  rich  merchants  they  cold  not  bee. 

1  To  Ffrance  nor  Fflanders  dare  we  nott  passe, 
Nor  Burdeaux  voyage  wee  dare  not  ffare, 

And  all  for  a  ffalse  robber  that  lyes  on  the  seas, 
And  robb[s]  us  of  our  merchants-ware.' 

King  Henery  was  stout,  and  he  turned  him  about, 
And  swore  by  the  Lord  that  was  mickle  of  might 

1  thought  he  had  not  been  in  the  world  throughout 
Inat  durst  have  wrought  England  such  unright.' 

But  ever  they  sighed,  and  said,  alas  ! 

Unto  King  Harry  this  answere  againe  : 
'  He  is  a  proud  Scott  that  will  robb  us  all 

If  wee  were  twenty  shipps  and  hee  but  one.' 

The  king  looket  over  his  left  shoulder, 
^    Amongst  his  lords  and  barrons  soe  ffree : 
'  Have  I  never  lord  in  all  my  realme 
Will  ffeitch  yond  traitor  unto  mee  ? ' 

'  Yes,  that  dare  I  ! '  saves  my  lord  Chareles  Howard, 

Neere  to  the  king  wheras  hee  did  stand  ; 
If  that  Your  Grace  will  give  me  leave, 
My  selfe  wilbe  the  only  man.' 

' T«h?Uihut  have  six  hundre<*  men,'  saith  our  king 

And  chuse  them  out  of  my  realme  soe  ffree  ■ 
.oesids  marnners  and  boyes, 
To  guide  the  great  shipp'on  the  sea.' 

'rieHawardake  "^  ^  Andrew''  sais  Charles>  my  lord 
'Upon  the  sea,  if  hee  be  there  ; 

Tl11  I?""8  Him  and  h,S  shiPP  to  shore» 
Or  before  my  prince  I  will  never  come  neere.' 

The  ffirst  of  all  my  lord  did  call, 

A  noble  gunner  hee  was  one  :' 
This  man  was  three  score  yeeres  and  ten, 

And  Peeter  Simon  was  his  name 


8  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

'  Peeter,'  sais  hee,  '  I  must  sayle  to  the  sea, 
To  seeke  out  an  enemye  ;  God  be  my  speed  ! 

Before  all  others  I  have  chosen  thee  ; 
Of  a  hundred  guners  thoust  be  my  head.' 

'  My  lord,'  sais  hee,  '  if  you  have  chosen  mee 
Of  a  hundred  gunners  to  be  the  head, 

Hange  mee  att  your  mairie-mast  tree 

If  I  misse  my  marke  past  three  pence  bread.' 

The  next  of  all  my  lord  he  did  call, 

A  noble  bowman  hee  was  one  ; 
In  Yorekshire  was  this  gentleman  borne, 

And  William  Horsley  was  his  name. 

'  Horsley,'  sayes  hee,  '  I  must  sayle  to  the  sea, 
To  seeke  out  an  enemye  ;  God  be  my  speede  ! 

Before  all  others  I  have  chosen  thee  ; 

Of  a  hundred  bowemen  thoust  be  my  head.' 

'  My  lord,'  sais  hee,  '  if  you  have  chosen  mee 
Of  a  hundred  bowemen  to  be  the  head, 

Hang  me  att  your  mainemast  tree 

If  I  misse  my  marke  past  twelve  pence  bread.' 

With  pikes,  and  gunnes,  and  bowemen  bold, 
This  noble  Howard  is  gone  to  the  sea 

On  the  day  before  midsummer-even, 
And  out  at  Thames  mouth  sayled  they. 

They  had  not  sayled  dayes  three 

Upon  their  iourney  they  tooke  in  hand, 

But  there  they  mett  with  a  noble  shipp, 
And  stoutely  made  itt  both  stay  and  stand. 

'Thou  must  tell  me  thy  name,'  sais  Charles,  my  lord 
Haward, 

Or  who  thou  art,  or  ffrom  whence  thou  came, 
Yea,  and  where  thy  dwelling  is, 

To  whom  and  where  thy  shipp  does  belong.' 

'  My  name,'  sayes  hee,  '  is  Henery  Hunt, 
With  a  pure  hart  and  a  penitent  mind ; 

I  and  my  shipp  they  doe  belong 

Unto  the  New-castle  that  stands  upon  Tine.' 


«• 


S/R  ANDREW  BARTON 

Now  thou  must  tell  me,  Harry  Hunt, 
As  thou  hast  sayled  by  day  and  by  night 
Hast  thou  not  heard  of  a  stout  robber? 
Men  calls  him  Sir  Andrew  Bartton,  knight.' 

But  ever  he  sighed,  and  sayd,  '  Alas  ' 
Ffull  well,  my  lord,  I  know  that  wight; 

He  robd  me  of  my  merchants  ware, 
And  I  was  his  prisoner  but  yester'-night. 

As  I  was  sayling  upon  the  sea, 

And  [a]  Burdeaux  voyage  as  I  did  ffare, 

He  clasped  me  to  his  archborde, 
And  robd  me  of  all  my  merchants-ware. 

And  I  am  a  man  both  poore  and  bare 
And  every  man  will  have  his  owne  'of  me 

And  I  am  bound  towards  London  to  ffare 
I  o  complaine  to  my  prince  Henerye.' 

'  That  shall  not  need,'  sais  my  lord  Haward  ■ 

If  thou  canst  lett  me  this  robber  see, 
t  for  every  peny  he  hath  taken  thee  ffroe 

Ihou  shalt  be  rewarded  a  shilling,'  quoth  hee. 

'Now  God  fforefend,'  saies  Henery  Hunt 

My  lord,  you  shold  worke  soe  ffarr  am'isse  ' 
God  keepe  you  out  of  that  traitors  hands  ' 
For  you  wott  ffull  little  what  a  man  hee  is. 

'Hee  is  brasse  within,  and  Steele  without 
And  beames  hee  beares  in  his  topcastle  stronge  ■ 

His  shipp  hath  ordmance  cleane  round  about  •       ' 
Besids,  my  lord,  hee  is  verry  well  mand. 

'  He  hath  a  pinnace  is  deerlye  dight 
Saint  Andrews  crosse,  that  is  his  guide  ■ 

His  pinnace  beares  nine  score  men  and  more, 
tfesids  fifteen  cannons  on  every  side. 

'  If  you  were  twenty  shippes,  and  he  but  one, 

Either  in  archbord  or  in  hall, 
He  wold  overcome  you  everye  one, 

And  if  his  beames  they  doe  downe  ffall ' 


io  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

1  This  is  cold  comfort,'  sais  my  Lord  Haward, 
'  To  wellcome  a  stranger  thus  to  the  sea ; 

Tie  bring  him  and  his  shipp  to  shore, 

Or  else  into  Scottland  hee  shall  carrye  mee.' 

1  Then  you  must  gett  a  noble  gunner,  my  lord, 

That  can  sett  well  with  his  eye, 
And  sinke  his  pinnace  into  the  sea, 

And  soone  then  overcome  will  hee  bee. 

'  And  when  that  you  have  done  this, 
If  you  chance  Sir  Andrew  for  to  bord, 

Lett  no  man  to  his  topcastle  goe  ; 
And  I  will  give  you  a  glasse,  my  lord, 

1  And  then  you  need  to  ffeare  no  Scott, 
Whether  you  sayle  by  day  or  by  night  ; 

And  to-morrow,  by  seven  of  the  clocke, 

You  shall  meete  with  Sir  Andrew  Bartton,  knight. 

'  I  was  his  prisoner  but  yester  night, 

And  he  hath  taken  mee  sworne,'  quoth  hee ; 

'  I  trust  my  L[ord]  God  will  me  fforgive 
And  if  that  oath  then  broken  bee. 

'  You  must  lend  me  sixe  peeces,  my  lord,'  quoth  hee, 

'  Into  my  shipp  to  sayle  the  sea, 
And  to-morrow,  by  nine  of  the  clocke, 

Your  Honour  againe  then  will  I  see.' 


'&' 


And  the  hache-bord  where  Sir  Andrew  lay 

Is  hached  with  gold  deerlye  dight : 
'  Now  by  my  ffaith,'  sais  Charles,  my  lord  Haward, 

'  Then  yonder  Scott  is  a  worthye  wight  ! 

'  Take  in  your  ancyents  and  your  standards, 

Yea  that  no  man  shall  them  see, 
And  put  me  fforth  a  white  willow  wand, 

As  merchants  use  to  sayle  the  sea.' 

But  they  stirred  neither  top  nor  mast, 

But  Sir  Andrew  they  passed  by  : 
'  Whatt  English  are  yonder,'  said  Sir  Andrew, 

'  That  can  so  little  curtesye  ? 


S/R  ANDREW  BARTON 

'  I  have  beene  admirall  over  the  sea 

More  then  these  yeeres  three  ; 
There  is  never  an  English  dog,  nor  Portingall 

Can  passe  this  way  without  leave  of  mee. 

'  H^Ln°,W  y0nder  Pedlers,  they  are  past, 

W  hich  is  no  little  greffe  to  me  • 
Ffeitch  them  backe,'  sayes  Sir  Andrew  Bartton, 
1  hey  shall  all  hang  att  my  maine-mast  tree.' 

With  that  the  pinnace  itt  shott  of, 
That  my  Lord  Haward  might  itt  well  ken  ■ 

Itt  stroke  downe  my  lords  fforemast, 
And  killed  fourteen  of  my  lord  his  men. 

'  Come  hither,  Simon  ! '  sayes  my  lord  Haward 

Looke  that  thy  words  be  true  thou  sayd  ; 
1  le  hang  thee  att  my  maine-mast  tree 
If  thou  misse  thy  marke  past  twelve  pence  bread.' 

Simon  was  old,  but  his  hart  itt  was  bold  • 

Hee  tooke  downe  a  peece,  and  layd  itt  full  lowe  ; 

He  put  in  chaine  yards  nine, 
Besids  other  great  shott  lesse  and  more. 

With  that  hee  lett  his  gun-shott  goe  • 

Soe  hee  well  settled  itt  with  his  eye 
The  first  sight  that  Sir  Andrew  sawe,  ' 

Hee  see  his  pinnace  sunke  in  the  sea. 

When  hee  saw  his  pinace  sunke, 

,  }j0x^  ■'  in  hls  hart  hee  was  not  well : 
'  Cutt  my  ropes  !  itt  is  time  to  be  gon  i 
I  le  goe  ffeitch  yond  pedlers  backe  my  selfe  ! 

When  my  lord  Haward  saw  Sir  Andrew  loose, 
(    Lord  !  in  his  hart  that  hee  was  ffaine : 
Mnke  on  your  drummes  !  spread  out  your  ancyents  I 
bound  out  your  trumpetts  !  sound  out  amaine!' 

'  Fight  on>  my  men  , ,  sais  Sjr  Andrew  BarttQn 

w  eate,  howsoever  this  geere  will  sway, 
Itt  is  my  lord  Adm[i]rall  of  England 
Is  come  to  seeke  mee  on  the  sea.' 


I  I 


[2  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

Simon  had  a  sonne  ;  with  shott  of  a  gunne — 
Well  Sir  Andrew  might  itt  ken — 

He  shott  itt  in  att  a  privye  place, 

And  killed  sixty  more  of  Sir  Andrews  men. 

Harry  Hunt  came  in  att  the  other  syde, 
And  att  Sir  Andrew  hee  shott  then  ; 

He  drove  downe  his  fformast-tree, 

And  killed  eighty  more  of  Sir  Andriwes  men. 

4  I  have  done  a  good  turne,'  sayes  Harry  Hunt ; 

'  Sir  Andrew  is  not  our  kings  ffreind  ; 
He  hoped  to  have  undone  me  yester-night, 

But  I  hope  I  have  quitt  him  well  in  the  end.' 

4  Ever  alas  ! '  sayd  Sir  Andrew  Barton, 
'  What  shold  a  man  either  thinke  or  say  ? 

Yonder  ("false  theeffe  is  my  strongest  enemye, 
Who  was  my  prisoner  but  yesterday. 

'  Come  hither  to  me,  thou  Gourden  good, 
And  be  thou  readye  att  my  call, 

And  I  will  give  thee  three  hundred  pound 
If  thou  wilt  lett  my  beames  downe  ffall.' 

With  that  he  swarved  the  maine-mast  tree, 
Soe  did  he  itt  with  might  and  maine ; 

Horseley,  with  a  bearing  arrow, 
Stroke  the  Gourden  through  the  braine, 

And  he  ffell  into  the  haches  againe, 

And  sore  of  this  wound  that  he  did  bleed  ; 

Then  word  went  throug  Sir  Andrews  men, 
That  the  Gourden  he  was  dead. 

'  Come  hither  to  me,  lames  Hambliton, 

Thou  art  my  sisters  sonne,  I  have  no  more ; 

I  will  give  [thee]  six  hundred  pound 
If  thou  wilt  lett  my  beames  downe  fall.' 

With  that  hee  swarved  the  maine-mast  tree, 
Soe  did  hee  itt  with  might  and  maine 

Horseley,  with  another  broad  arrow, 
Strake  the  yeaman  through  the  braine 


SIR  ANDREW  BARTON  13 

That  hee  ffell  downe  to  the  haches  againe  ; 

Sore  of  his  wound  that  hee  did  bleed. 
Covetousness  getts  no  gaine, 

Itt  is  verry  true,  as  the  Welch  man  sayd. 

But  when  hee  saw  his  sisters  sonne  slaine, 

Lord  !  in  his  heart  hee  was  not  well : 
1  Goe  ffeitch  me  downe  my  armour  of  prove, 

For  I  will  to  the  topcastle  my-selfe. 

'  Goe  ffeitch  me  downe  my  armour  of  prooffe, 

For  itt  is  gilded  with  gold  soe  cleere  ; 
God  be  with  my  brother,  Iohn  of  Bartton  ! 

Amongst  the  Portingalls  hee  did  itt  weare.' 

But  when  hee  had  his  armour  of  prooffe, 

And  on  his  body  hee  had  itt  on, 
Every  man  that  looked  att  him 

Sayd,  Gunn  nor  arrow  hee  neede  feare  none. 

'  Come  hither,  Horsley  ! '  sayes  my  lord  Haward, 
'  And  looke  your  shaft  that  itt  goe  right ; 

Shoot  a  good  shoote  in  the  time  of  need, 

And  ffor  thy  shooting  thoust  be  made  a  knight.' 

1 1'le  doe  my  best,'  sayes  Horslay  then, 

'  Your  Honor  shall  see  beffore  I  goe ; 
If  I  shold  be  hanged  att  your  maine-mast, 

I  have  in  my  shipp  but  arrowes  tow.' 

But  att  Sir  Andrew  hee  shott  then  ; 

Hee  made  sure  to  hitt  his  marke ; 
Under  the  spole  of  his  right  arme 

Hee  smote  Sir  Andrew  quite  throw  the  hart. 

Yett  ffrom  the  tree  hee  wold  not  start, 

But  hee  dinged  to  itt  with  might  and  maine ; 

Under  the  coller  then  of  his  iacke, 

He  stroke  Sir  Andrew  thorrow  the  braine. 

'  Ffight  on,  my  men,'  sayes  Sir  Andrew  Bartton 

'  I  am  hurt,  but  I  am  not  slaine  ; 
I'le  lay  mee  downe  and  bleed  a-while, 

And  then  I'le  rise  and  fright  againe. 


i4  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

'  Ffight  on,  my  men,'  sayes  Sir  Andrew  Bartton, 
'  These  English  doggs  they  bite  soe  lowe  ; 

Ffight  on  for  Scottland  and  Saint  Andrew 
Till  you  heare  my  whistle  blowe  ! ' 

But  when  they  cold  not  heare  his  whistle  blow, 
Sayes  Harry  Hunt,  '  I'le  lay  my  head 

You  may  bord  yonder  noble  shipp,  my  lord, 
For  I  know  Sir  Andrew  hee  is  dead.' 

With  that  they  borded  this  noble  shipp, 
Soe  did  they  itt  with  might  and  maine  ; 

They  ffound  eighteen  score  Scotts  alive, 
Besids  the  rest  were  maimed  and  slaine. 

My  lord  Haward  tooke  a  sword  in  his  hand, 

And  smote  of  Sir  Andrews  head ; 
The  Scotts  stood  by  did  weepe  and  mourne, 

But  never  a  word  durst  speake  or  say. 

He  caused  his  body  to  be  taken  downe, 
And  over  the  hatch-bord  cast  into  the  sea, 

And  about  his  middle  thre  hundred  crownes  : 
'  Whersoever  thou  lands,  itt  will  bury  thee.' 

With  his  head  they  sayled  into  England  againe, 
With  right  good  will,  and  fforce  and  main, 

And  the  day  beffore  Newyeeres  even 
Into  Thames  mouth  they  came  againe. 

My  lord  Haward  wrote  to  King  Heneryes  grace, 
With  all  the  newes  hee  cold  him  bring  : 

'  Such  a  Newyeeres  gifft  I  have  brought  to  your  Grace 
As  never  did  subject  to  any  king. 

'  Ffor  merchandyes  and  manhood, 

The  like  is  nott  to  be  ffound  ; 
The  sight  of  these  wold  doe  you  good, 

Ffor  you  have  not  the  like  in  your  English  ground.' 

But  when  hee  heard  tell  that  they  were  come, 
Full  royally  hee  Welcomed  them  home ; 

Sir  Andrewes  shipp  was  the  kings  Newyeeres  guifft ; 
A  braver  shipp  you  never  saw  none. 


SIR  ANDREW  BARTON  15 

Now  hath  our  king  Sir  Andrews  shipp, 
Besett  with  pearlcs  and  precyous  stones  ; 

Now  hath  England  two  shipps  of  warr, 
Two  shipps  of  war,  before  but  one. 

1  Who  holpes  to  this  ?  '  sayes  King  Henerye, 
'  That  I  may  reward  him  ffor  his  paine  ; ' 

'  Harry  Hunt,  and  Peeter  Simon, 
William  Horseleay,  and  I  the  same.' 

'  Harry  Hunt  shall  have  his  whistle  and  chaine, 
And  all  his  iewells,  whatsoever  they  bee, 

And  other  rich  giffts  that  I  will  not  name, 
For  his  good  service  he  hath  done  mee. 

'  Horslay,  right  thoust  be  a  knight, 

Lands  and  livings  thou  shalt  have  store ; 

Howard  shalbe  Erie  of  Nottingham, 
And  soe  was  never  Haward  before. 

I  Now,  Peeter  Simon,  thou  art  old ; 

I  will  maintaine  thee  and  thy  son ; 
Thou  shalt  have  five  hundred  pound  all  in  gold, 
Ffor  the  good  service  that  thou  hast  done.' 

Then  King  Henerye  shiffted  his  roome  ; 

In  came  the  Queene  and  ladyes  bright ; 
Other  arrands  they  had  none 

But  to  see  Sir  Andrew  Bartton,  knight. 

But  when  they  see  his  deadly  fface, 
His  eyes  were  hollow  in  his  head  ; 

I I  wold  give  a  hundred  pound,'  sais  King  Henerye, 
1  The  man  were  alive  as  hee  is  dead  ! 

•  Yett  for  the  manfull  part  that  hee  hath  playd, 

Both  heere  and  beyond  the  sea, 
His  men  shall  have  halfe  a  crowne  a  day 

To  bring  them  to  my  brother,  King  Iamye.' 


1 6  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 


JOHN  DORY. 

As  it  fell  on  a  holy-day,  and  upon  an  holy-tide-a, 

John  Dory  bought  him  an  ambling  nag,  to  Paris  for  to  ride-a  : 

And,    when  John  Dory  to  Paris   was  come,  a  little  before   the 

gate -a, 
John    Dory   was   fitted,   the   porter   was   witted,    to   let  him    in 

thereat-a. 

The  first  man  that  John  Dory  did  meet,  was  good  King  John  of 

France-a ; 
John   Dory   could   well   of  his   courtesie,    but  fell   down   in   a 

trance-a : 

'A  pardon,  a  pardon,  my  liege  and  my  king,  for  my  merie  men 

and  for  me-a  ; 
And  all  the  churles  in  merie  England,  He  bring  them  all  bound  to 
thee-a.' 

And  Nicholl  was  then  a  Cornish  man,  a  little  beside  Bohide-a. 
And  he  mande  forth  a  good  blacke  barke,  with  fiftie  good  oares 
on  a  side-a. 

'  Run  up,  my  boy,  unto  the  maine-top,  and  looke  what  thou  canst 

spie-a.' 
'  Who  ho !  who  ho  !  a  goodly  ship  I  do  see,  I  trow  it  be  John 

Dory-a.' 

They  hoist  their  sailes,  both  top  and  top,  the  meisseine  and  all 

was  tride-a  ; 
And  every  man  stood  to  his  lot,  whatever  should  betide-a. 

The   roring   cannons  then  were  plide,  and  dub-a-dub  went  the 

drumme-a  ; 
The  braying  trumpets   lowd  they  cride  to  courage  both  all  and 

some-a. 

The  grapling-hooks  were  brought  at  length,  the  browne  bill  and 

the  sword-a ; 
John  Dory  at  length,  for  all  his  strength,  was  clapt  fast   under 

board-a. 


THE  MARINERS   SONG  17 


THE  MARINERS  SONG. 

From  the  '  Comedy  of  Common  Conditions,' 

about  1570. 


Luste/y,  lustely,  lustely  let  us  saile  for  the  ; 

The  winde  trim  doth  serve  us,  it  blows  from  the  north. 


All  thinges  we  have  ready  and  nothing  we  want 
To  furnish  our  ship  that  rideth  hereby ; 

Victuals  and  weapons  thei  be  nothing  skant, 
Like  worthie  mariners  ourselves  we  will  trie. 

Lustely,  lustely,  arc. 


Her  flagges  be  new  trimmed,  set  flanting  alofte, 
Our  ship  for  swift  swimmyng,  oh  !  she  doth  excel ; 

We  fear  no  enemies,  we  have  escaped  them  ofte  ; 
Of  all  ships  that  swimmeth  she  beareth  the  bell. 

Lustely,  lustely,  &>c. 


And  here  is  a  maister  excelleth  in  skill, 
And  our  maister's  mate  he  is  not  to  seeke  ; 

And  here  is  a  boteswaine  will  do  his  good  will, 
And  here  is  a  ship,  boy,  we  never  had  leak. 

Lustely,  lustely,  crc. 


If  fortune  then  faile  not,  and  our  next  voiage  prove, 
We  will  return  merely,  and  make  good  cheare, 

And  holde  all  together  as  friends  link'd  in  love ; 
The  Cannes  shall  be  filled  with  wine,  ale,  and  beer. 

Lustely,  lustely,  &c. 


C 


1 8  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

A  JOYFUL  NEW  BALLAD,   DECLARING   THE 

HAPPIE    OBTAINING   OF  THE   GREAT 

GALLEAZZO, 

Wherein  Don  Pietro  de  Valdez  was  the  chiefe, 
through  the  mightie  power  and  providence  of 
God,  being  a  special  token  of  his  gracious  and 
fatherly  goodness  towards  us,  to  the  great  en- 
couragement of  all  those  that  willingly  fight  in 
the  defence  of  his  gospel,  and  our  good  Oueene 
of  England. 

To  the  Tune  of,  Mounseurs  Almaigne 

0  noble  England,  fall  doune  upon  thy  knee, 

And  praise  thy  God  with  thankfull  hart,  which  still  maintaineth 

thee. 
The  forraine  forces,  that  seekes  thy  utter  spoile  : 
Shall  then  through  his  especiall  grace  be  brought  to  shamefull 

foile. 
With  mightie  power  they  come  unto  our  coast : 
To  over  runne  our  countrie  quite,  they  make  their  brags  and  boast. 
In  strength  of  men  they  set  their  onely  stay, 
But  we  upon  the  Lord  our  God  will  put  our  trust  alway. 

Great  is  their  number  of  ships  upon  the  sea  ; 
And  their  provision  wonderful,  but,  Lord,  thou  art  our  stay. 
Their  armed  souldiers  are  many  by  account, 
Their  aiders  eke  in  this  attempt  doe  sundry  waies  surmount. 
The  Pope  of  Rome,  with  many  blessed  graines, 
To  sanctify  their  bad  pretense,  bestowed  both  cost  and  paines. 
But  little  land,  be  not  dismaide  at  all ; 

The  Lord  no  doubt  is  on  our  side,  which  soone  will  worke  their 
fall. 

In  happie  houre  our  foes  we  did  descry, 

All  under  saile  with  gallant  wind  as  they  cam  passing  by. 

Which  suddaine  tidings  to  Plymmouth  being  brought, 

Full  soone  our  Lord  high  Admirall  for  to  pursue  them  sought. 

And  to  his  traine  coragiously  he  said  : 

'  Now  for  the  Lord  and  our  good  Queene  to  fight  be  not  afraide. 

Regard  our  cause,  and  play  your  partes  like  men  : 

The  Lord  no  doubt  will  prosper  us  in  all  our  actions  then.' 


THE  GREAT  GALLEAZZO  ,9 

tEIE?*  C;al,leaz?0'  whidl  ^  so  huge  and  hye, 

That  like  a  bulwarke  on  the  sea  did  seeme  to  each  man's  eve 

There  was  it  taken,  unto  our  great  reliefe  ;  >e* 

And  divers  nobles,  in  which  traine  Don  Pietro  was  the  chiefe 

Strong  was  she  stuft,  with  cannons  great  and  small, 

And  other  instruments  of  warre,  which  we  obtained  all 

A  certaine  signe  of  good  successe  we  trust 

That  God  will  overthrow  the  rest,  as  he  hath  done  the  first. 

Then  did  our  navie  pursue  the  rest  amaine 

can°rng   n°iSe   °f  Cann°nS   §reat'    tiU   they   ne^e   Callice 
With  manly  courage  they  followed  them  so  fast 

AnS tedlvlg  ty  rGalH°n  did  S6em  t0  I***  at  M> 
And  m  distress,  for  savegard  of  their  lives, 

WhiS     KrUCe  they  did  hanS  out>  with  ma"y  mournful  cries  • 
Which  when  our  men  did  perfectly  espie,  " 

Some  httle  barkes  they  sent  to  her,  to  board  her  quietly. 

But  these  false  Spaniards,  esteeming  them  but  weake 

"breake7  ^    **   *«"   ^   **  ^S   forth    did 

Forl^/T d  T110"5'  they  laide  about  them  then  ; 

Whirh     k  r°y  th°Se  pr0per  barkes>  and  all  their  valiant  men 
Which  when  our  men  perceived  so  to  be 

Like  lions  fierce  they  forward  went,  to  'quite  this  iniurie 

Thev  k°ild1hg  them'  Wi!,h  P"*  a"d  4htie  hand?'    "' 

I  hey  kild  the  men  untill  their  arke  did  sinke  in  Callice  sand. 

The  chiefest  captaine  of  this  Gallion  so  hie, 

Don  Hugo  de  Moncaldo  he,  within  this  fight  did  die 

R?t  frS  th.e  uGenueraU  °f  a11  the  Gallio"s  great  ' 

But  through  his  braines  with  ponders  force  a  bullet  strong  did 

And  manie  more  by  sword  did  loose  their  breath  ■ 

And^nie   more  within  the  sea  did   swimme  and   tooke  their 

Sj  m j'ht  y™  see  the  salt  and  foming  flood, 

Dyed  and  staind  like  scarlet  red,  with  sfore  of  Spanish  blood. 

This  mightie  vessell  was  threescore  yards  in  length  • 

And  oughtily  provided  eke,  with  bread,  come,'  wine  and  meat. 


C  2 


SONCS  AND  BALLADS 

20 

tu.— -rsK t  W-  — edt0  be 

Three-score  toote  *u« 

And  not  a  snip  uiuu 

Our  pleasant  countne  so  fturtfuU  and iso  to*    ^  and  bare  : 

And  to  deprive  our  noble  w. 

And  never  more  to  see  me 

But  God  afm.gbtie  **^X&>  *»»  ^  °"  *"~ 

If  faithfully  we  call  ana  cry 

And  you,  *r»*3«2^*&i£* say- 

And  feare  not,  in  defense  'h«eot,        V         Qne; 

O-  S-rte^Uamong  you  be  I  bitter  storm, 

Sv3fej°S  ^u  nursed  were. 
To  God,  and  her,  and  to  tn 

Lord  God  afmigbbe  wbicb  ^  *^arts  .ban 

Indue  her  Councel  with  tny  g 


THE    WINNING   OF  CALES         21 

Give  to  the  rest  of  Commons  more  and  lesse, 

Loving  harts,  obedient  minds,  and  perfect  faithfulnesse. 

That  they  and  we,  and  all,  with  one  accord 

On  Sion  hill  may  sing  the  praise  of  our  most  mightie  Lord. 

T(homas)  D(eloney). 


AN  EXCELLENT   SONG    ON    THE    WLNNLNG    OF 
CALES  BY  THE  ENGLLSH 

(Tune  of,  Dub  a  Dub ;  or,  the  Seaman's  Tantara  vara.) 

Long  the  proud  Spaniards  had  vanted  to  conquer  us, 

Threatening  our  country  with  fire  and  sword  ; 
Often  preparing  their  navy  most  sumptuous, 
With  all  the  provision  that  Spain  could  afford. 

Dub-a-dub,  dub-a-dub,  thus  strike  their  drums  ; 
Tan-ta-ra,  ta-ra-ra,  the  Englishmen  comes  ! 

To  the  seas  presently  went  our  Lord  Admirall, 
With  knights  couragyous,  and  captaines  full  good  ; 

The  Earl  of  Essex,  a  prosperous  Generall, 
With  him  prepared  to  passe  the  salt  floode. 
Dub-a-dub,  etc. 

At  Plymouth  speedily  took  they  shipp  valiantly, 

Braver  shippes  never  were  seen  under  sayle  ; 
With  their  fay  re  colours  spread,  and  streamers  o're  their  head 

Now,  bragging  Spanyards,  take  heed  of  your  tayle. 
Dub-a-dub,  etc. 

Unto  Cales,  cunningly,  came  we  most  speedylye, 

Where  the  King's  navy  did  secretelye  ride, 
Being  upon  their  backe,  piercing  their  butts  of  Sacke, 
Ere  that  the  Spanyards  our  coming  descry'd. 
Tan-ta-ra,  ta-ra-ra,  the  Englishmen  comes ; 
Bounce-a-bounce,  bounce -a-bounce,  off  went  the  guns. 

Great  was  the  crying,  running  and  ryding, 

Which  at  that  season  was  made  in  that  place ; 

The  Beacons  were  fyred,  as  need  then  required, 
To  hyde  their  great  treasure  they  had  little  space. 
'  Alas  ! '  they  cryed,  '  Englishmen  comes,'  etc. 


22  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

There  you  might  see  the  shipps,  how  they  were  fired  fast, 
And  how  the  men  drowned  them  selves  in  the  sea  : 

There  you  may  hear  them  cry,  wail  and  weep  piteously, 
When  as  they  saw  no  shift  to  escape  thence  away. 
Dub-a-dub,  etc. 

The  great  Saint  Philip,  the  pryde  of  the  Spanyards, 
Was  burnt  to  the  bottom,  and  sunke  in  the  sea ; 

But  the  Saint  Andrew,  and  eke  the  Saint  Matthew 
We  took  in  fight  manfully,  and  brought  them  away. 
Dub-a-dub,  etc. 

The  Earl  of  Essex,  most  valyant  and  hardy, 

With  horse-men  and  foot-men  march'd  towards  the  towne 
The  enemies  which  saw  them,  full  greatly  affrighted, 

Did  fly  for  their  safe-guard,  and  durst  not  come  downe. 
Dub-a-dub,  etc. 

'  Now,'  quoth  the  noble  Earl,  '  courage,  my  soldiers  all  ! 

Fight  and  be  valiant,  the  spoyl  you  shall  have ; 
And  [be]  well  rewarded  all,  from  the  great  to  the  small ; 

But  looke  that  the  women  and  children  you  save  ! ' 
Dub-a-dub,  etc. 

The  Spaniards,  at  that  sight,  saw  'twas  in  vain  to  fight, 
Hung  up  their  flags  of  truce,  yielding  the  town  ; 

We  march'd  in  presently,  decking  the  walls  on  high 
With  our  English  colours,  which  purchas'd  renown. 
Dub-a-dub,  etc. 

Ent'ring  the  houses  then,  and  of  the  richest  men, 
For  gold  and  treasure  we  searched  each  day  ; 

In  some  places  we  did  find  pye  baking  in  the  oven, 
Meat  at  the  fire  roasting,  and  folkes  fled  away. 
Dub-a-dub,  etc. 

Full  of  rich  merchandize  every  shop  we  did  see, 
Damasks,  and  sattins,  and  velvets  full  fair ; 

Which  soldiers  measure  out  by  the  length  of  their  swords, 
Of  all  commodities  each  one  hath  a  share. 
Dub-a-dub,  etc. 

Thus  Cales  was  taken,  and  our  brave  generall 

March'd  to  the  market-place,  where  he  did  stand ; 

There  many  prisoners  of  good  account  were  took  ; 
Many  craved  mercy,  and  mercy  they  found. 
Dub-a-dub,  etc. 


THE   SAILORS  DELIGHT  23 

When  as  our  brave  generall  saw  they  delayed  time, 
And  would  not  ransom  their  town,  as  they  said, 
With  their  faire  wainscots,  their  presses  and  bedsteads, 
Their  joint-stooles  and  tables,  a  fyre  we  made  ; 
And  when  the  tozvn  burned  all  in  a  flame, 
With  tan-ta-ra,  tan-ta-ra  rara,from  tlience  we  came. 

(By  Thomas  Deloney.) 


THE  SAILOR'S  ONELY  DELIGHT: 

Shewing  the  brave  fight  between   George- Aloe,  the 
Sweep-stakes  and  certain  Frenchmen  at  Sea. 

The  George-Aloe  and  the  Sweep-stake  too, 

With  hey,  with  hoe,  for  and  a  nony  no  ; 
O  they  were  merchant-men  and  bound  for  Safee, 

And  alongst  the  coast  of  Barbary. 

The  George-Aloe  to  anchor  came, 

But  the  jolly  Sweepstake  kept  on  her  way. 

They  had  not  sayled  leagues  two  or  three, 

But  they  met  with  a  Frenchman  of  war  upon  the  sea. 

'  All  haile,  all  haile,  you  lusty  gallants, 

Of  whence  is  your  fair  ship,  or  whither  are  you  bound  ? ' 

'  We  are  Englishmen  and  bound  for  Safee, 

Of  whence  is  your  fair  ship,  or  whither  are  you  bound  ?  ' 

'  Amaine,  amaine,  you  gallant  Englishman,' 

'  Come,  you  French  swads,  and  strike  down  your  sayle.' 

They  laid  us  aboord  on  the  star-boord  side, 
And  they  overthrew  us  into  the  sea  so  wide. 

When  tidings  to  the  George-Aloe  came, 

That  the  jolly  Sweep-stake  by  a  Frenchman  was  tane. 

To  top  !  to  top,  thou  little  ship-boy  ! 
And  see  if  this  Frenchman  of  war  thou  canst  descry.' 


24  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

'  A  sayle,  a  sayle,  under  our  lee, 
Yea,  and  another  under  her  obey.' 

'  Weigh  anchor !  weigh  anchor,  O  jolly  boat-swain, 
We  wil  take  this  Frenchman  if  we  can.' 

We  had  not  sayled  leagues  two  or  three, 

But  we  met  the  Frenchman  of  war  upon  the  sea, 

'  All  haile,  all  haile,  you  lusty  gallants, 

Of  whence  is  your  faire  ship  and  whither  are  you  bound  ?  ' 

'  O,  wee  are  merchant-men  and  bound  for  Safee.' 
'  I,  and  wee  are  French-men,  and  war  upon  the  sea. 

'  Amaine,  amaine,  you  English  dogges  ! ' 

'  Come  aboard,  you  French  rogue,  and  strike  down  your  sailes.' 

The  first  good  shot  the  George- Aloe  (made), 
He  made  the  French-men's  hearts  sore  afraid. 

The  second  shot  the  George- Aloe  did  afford, 
He  struck  their  mainmast  over  the  board. 

'  Have  mercy,  have  mercy,  you  brave  Englishmen,' 
'  O  what  have  you  done  with  our  brethren, 
As  they  sayled  in  Barbarie  ? ' 

'  Wee  laid  them  aboard  on  the  starboard  side, 
And  we  threw  them  into  the  sea  so  wide.' 

1  Such  mercy  as  you  have  shewed  unto  them, 
Then  the  like  mercy  shall  you  have  againe. 

Wee  laid  them  aboard  on  the  larboard  side, 
And  we  threw  them  into  the  sea  so  wide. 

Lord  !  how  it  grieves  our  hearts  full  sore, 

To  see  the  drowned  French-men  swim  along  the  shore. 

Now,  gallant  sea-men  all,  adieu, 
With  hey,  zvith  hoe,  for  atid  a  nony  ?w  ; 
This  is  the  latest  newes  that  I  can  write  to  you, 
To  England's  coast  from  Barbarie. 


CAPTA/N 


Ward 

J5 


THE  SEAMAN'S  SO\-n  „„ 

EAMOUS  PVeIte   0Tt^TAW  W*U>    TUr 
ENGLISHMAN  SoZ.    TBB   W0JiLD,  AND  A^ 

A  pyrate  anW  ,  a  of  EnS^nd, 

Wilh  iS'anders  of  Malta, 
B°'h  gold  an7f 6at  "ches; 


26  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Golden-seated  Candy, 

Famous  France  and  Italy, 
With  all  the  countries  of  the  Eastern  parts, 

If  once  their  ships  his  pride  with-stood, 

They  surely  all  were  cloath'd  in  blood, 
Such  cruelty  was  plac'd  within  their  hearts. 

The  riches  he  hath  gain'd, 

And  by  bloodshed  obtained, 
Well  may  suffice  for  to  maintain  a  king  ; 

His  fellows  all  were  valiant  wights, 

Fit  to  be  made  prince's  knights, 
But  that  their  lives  do  base  dishonors  bring. 

This  wicked-gotten  treasure 

Doth  him  but  little  pleasure  ; 
The  land  consumes  what  they  have  got  by  sea, 

In  drunkenness  and  letchery, 

Filthy  sins  of  sodomy, 
Their  evil-gotten  goods  do  wastje]  away. 

Such  as  live  by  thieving 

Have  seldome-times  good  ending, 

As  by  the  deeds  of  Captain  Ward  is  shown  : 
Being  drunk  amongst  his  drabs, 
His  nearest  friend  he  sometimes  stabs  ; 

Such  wickednesse  within  his  heart  is  grown. 

When  stormy  tempest  riseth, 

The  Causer  he  despiseth, 
Still  denies  to  pray  unto  the  Lord. 

He  feareth  neither  God  nor  devil, 

His  deeds  are  bad,  his  thoughts  are  evil, 
His  onley  trust  is  still  upon  his  sword. 

Men  of  his  own  country 

He  still  abuseth  vilely  ; 
Some  back  to  back  are  cast  into  the  waves  ; 

Some  are  hewn  in  pieces  small, 

Some  are  shot  against  a  wall ; 
A  slender  number  of  their  lives  he  saves. 

Of  truth  it  is  reported 
That  he  is  strongly  guarded 
By  Turks  that  are  not  of  a  good  belief ; 


DANSEKAR   THE   DUTCHMAN     27 

Wit  and  reasons  tell  them 
He  trusteth  not  his  country-men, 
He  shews  the  right  condition  of  a  thief. 

At  Tunis  in  Barbary 

Now  he  buildeth  stately 
A  gallant  palace  and  a  royal  place, 

Decked  with  delights  most  trim, 

Fitter  for  a  prince  than  him, 
The  which  at  last  will  prove  to  his  disgrace. 

To  make  the  world  to  wonder, 

This  captain  is  commander 
Of  four-and-twenty  ships  of  sayl, 

To  bring  in  treasure  from  the  sea 

Into  the  markets  every  day  : 
The  which  the  Turks  do  buy  up  without  fail. 

His  name  and  state  so  mounteth, 

These  countrey-men  accountoth 
Him  equal  to  the  nobles  of  that  land  ; 

But  these  his  honours  we  shall  find 

Shortly  blown  up  with  the  wind, 
Or  prove  like  letters  written  in  the  sand. 


THE   SONG   OF  DANSEKAR   THE  DUTCHMAN 
(Second  Part  of  the  Sea-man's  Song  of  Ward  and  Dansekar.) 

Sing  we  sea-men,  now  and  than, 

Of  Dansekar  the  Dutchman, 
Whose  gallant  mind  hath  won  him  great  renown  ; 

To  live  on  land  he  counts  it  base, 

But  seeks  to  purchase  greater  grace 
By  roving  on  the  ocean  up  and  down. 

His  heart  is  so  aspiring, 

That  now  his  chief  desiring 
Is  for  to  win  himself  a  worthy  name  ; 

The  land  hath  far  too  little  ground, 

The  sea  is  of  a  larger  bound, 
And  of  a  greater  dignity  and  fame. 


28  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Now  many  a  worthy  gallant, 

Of  courage  now  most  valiant, 
With  him  hath  put  their  fortunes  to  the  sea  ; 

All  the  world  about  have  heard 

Of  Dansekar  and  Captain  Ward, 
And  of  their  proud  adventures  every  day. 

There  is  not  any  kingdom, 

In  Turkey  or  in  Christendom, 
But  by  these  pyrates  have  received  loss ; 

Merchant-men  of  every  land 

Do  daily  in  great  danger  stand, 
And  fear  do  much  the  ocean  main  to  cross. 

They  make  children  fatherless, 

Woful  widows  in  distresse  ; 
In  shedding  blood  they  [take]  too  much  delight ; 

Fathers  they  bereave  of  sons, 

Regarding  neither  cries  nor  moans, 
So  much  they  joy  to  see  a  bloody  fight. 

They  count  it  gallant  bearing 

To  hear  the  cannons  roaring, 
And  musket  shot  to  rattle  in  the  sky  ; 

Their  glories  would  be  at  the  highest 

To  fight  against  the  foes  of  Christ, 
And  such  as  do  our  Christian  faith  deny. 

But  their  cursed  villanies, 

And  their  bloody  pyracies, 
Are  chiefly  bent  against  our  Christian  friends  ; 

Some  Christians  so  delight  in  evils 

That  they  become  the  sons  of  divels, 
And  for  the  same  have  many  shameful  ends. 

England  suffers  danger 

As  well  as  any  stranger  ; 
Nations  are  alike  unto  this^company  ; 

Many  English  merchant-men, 

And  of  London  now  and  then, 
Have  tasted  of  their  vile  extremity. 

London's  Elizabeth 
Of  late  these  rovers  taken  hath, 
A  ship  well  laden  with  rich  merchandize  ; 


DANSEKAR    THE   DUTCHMAN     29 

The  nimble  Pearl  and  Charity, 
All  ships  of  gallant  braver}7, 
Are  by  these  pyrates  made  a  lawful  prize. 

The  Trojan  of  London, 

With  other  ships  many  a  one, 
Hath  stooped  sail,  and  yielded  out  of  hand, 

(These  pyrates  they  have  shed  their  bloods, 

And  the  Turks  have  bought  their  goods), 
Being  all  too  weak  their  power  to  withstand. 

Of  Hull  the  Bonaventer, 

Which  was  a  great  frequenter 
And  passer  of  the  Straits  to  Barbary, 

Both  ship  and  men  [late]  taken  were 

By  Pyrates  Ward  and  Dansekar, 
And  brought  by  them  into  captivity. 

English  Ward  and  Dansekar 

Begin  greatly  now  to  jar 
About  [the  true]  dividing  [of]  their  goods  ; 

Both  ships  and  soldiers  gather  head, 

Dansekar  from  Ward  is  fled  : 
So  full  of  pride  and  malice  are  their  bloods. 

Ward  doth  only  promise 

To  keep  about  rich  Tunis, 
And  be  commander  of  those  Turkish  seas  ; 

But  valiant  Dutch-land  Dansekar 

Doth  hover  neer  unto  Argier, 
And  there  his  threat'ning  colours  now  displays. 

These  pyrates  thus  divided, 

By  God  is  sure  provided 
In  secret  sort  to  work  each  other's  woe ; 

Such  wicked  courses  cannot  stand, 

The  Divel  thus  puts  in  his  hand, 
And  God  will  give  them  soon  an  overthrow. 


30  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 


THE  FAMOUS  SEA  FIGHT  BETWEEN 
CAPTAIN   WARD  AND   THE    RAINBOW 

To  the  Tune  of  Captain  Ward,  etc. 

Strike  up,  you  lusty  gallants,  with  musick  and  sound  of  drum  : 

For  we  have  descry'd  a  rover  upon  the  sea  is  come ; 

His  name  is  Captain  Ward,  right  well  it  doth  appear 

There  has  not  been  such  a  rover  found  out  this  thousand  year ; 

For  he  hath  sent  unto  our  King,  the  sixth  of  January, 
Desiring  that  he  might  come  in,  with  all  his  company ; 
'  And  if  your  King  will  let  me  come,  till  I  my  tale  have  told, 
I  will  bestow  for  my  ransome  full  thirty  tun  of  gold.' 

'  O  nay  !  O  nay  ! '  then  said  our  King,  '  O  nay,  this  may  not  be, 
To  yield  to  such  a  rover  my  self  will  not  agree  ; 
He  hath  deceiv'd  the  French-man,  likewise  the  King  of  Spain, 
And  how  can  he  be  true  to  me,  that  hath  been  false  to  twain  ?  ' 

With  that  our  King  provided  a  ship  of  worthy  fame  ; 
Rainbow  she  is  called,  if  you  would  know  her  name. 
Now  the  gallant  Rainbotv  she  rowes  upon  the  sea, 
Five  hundred  gallant  seamen  to  bear  her  company. 

The  Dutch-man  and  the  Spaniard  she  made  them  for  to  flye, 
Also  the  bonny  French-man,  as  she  met  him  on  the  sea. 
When  as  this  gallant  Rainbow,  did  come  where  Ward  did  lye, 
Where  is  the  captain  of  this  ship  ? '  this  gallant  Rainbow  did 
cry. 

O  that  am  I,'  says  Captain  Ward,  '  there's  no  man  bids  me  lye  ; 
And  if  thou  art  the  King's  fair  ship  thou  art  welcome  unto  me.' 
'  I'le  tell  thee  what,'  says  Rainbow,  '  our  King  is  in  great  grief 
That  thou  should'st  lye  upon  the  sea  and  play  the  arrant  thief, 

'  And  will  not  let  our  merchants'  ships  pass,  as  they  did  before'; 
Such  tydings  to  our  King  is  come,  which  grieves  his  heart  full 

sore.' 
With  that  this  gallant  Rainbotv  she  shot,  out  of  her  pride, 
Full  fifty  gallant  brass  pieces,  charged  on  every  side. 


PRISONERS  IN  ARGIERS 

And  yet  these  gallant  shooters  prevailed  not  a  pin  ; 

Though  they  were  brass  on  the  out-side  brave  Ward  was  steel  within. 

'Shoot   on,   shoot   on!'    says  Captain    Ward;    'your  sport  well 

pleaseth  me ; 
And  he  that  first  gives  over,  shall  yield  unto  the  sea. 

'  I  never  wrong'd  an  English  ship,  but  Turk  and  King  of  Spain, 
For  and  the  jovial  Dutch-man,  as  I  met  on  the  main. 
If  I  had  known  your  King  but  one  two-years  before, 
I  would  have  saved  brave  Essex  life,  whose  death  did  grieve  me 
sore. 

'Go,  tell  the  King  of  England,  go  tell  him  thus  from  me, 
If  he  reign  king  of  all  the  land,  I  will  reign  king  at  sea.' 
With  that  the  gallant  Rainbow  shot,  and  shot,  and  shot  in  vain, 
And  left  the  rover's  company,  and  home  retum'd  again. 

O  Royal  King  of  England,  your  ship's  returned  again  ; 
For  Wards  ship  is  so  strong  it  never  will  be  ta'ne.' 
'  O  everlasting  ! '  says  our  King,  '  I  have  lost  jewels  three, 
Which  would  have  gone  into  the  seas  and  brought  proud  Ward 
to  me  ! 

'  The  first  was  Lord  Clifford,  Earl  of  Cumberland  ; 
The  second  was  the  Lord  Mountjoy,  as  you  shall  understand  ; 
The  third  was  brave  Essex,  from  field  would  never  flee  ; 
Which   would  'a  gone  unto  the  seas  and  brought   proud  Ward 
to  me  ! ' 


The  lamentable  cries  of  at  least  1500  Christians: 
most  of  them  being  Englishmen  (now  Prisoners 
in  Argiers  under  the  Turkes)  begging  at  Gods 
hand,  that  hee  would  open  the  eyes  of  all  Christian 
Kings  and  Princes,  to  commiserate  the  wretched 
estate  of  so  many  captives  :  and  withall  to  free 
them  from  that  Turkish  slavery,  in  which  both 
bodies  and  soules  are  in  danger  :  with  a  Petition 
to  the  Kings  most  excellent  Maiestie  and  all 
Christian  Princes. 

Not  many  moones  have  from  their  silver  bowes 

Shot  light  through  all  the  world,  since  those  sworne  foes 


32  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

To  God  and  all  good  men  .  .  .  that  hell-borne  crew 

Of  pirates  (to  whome  there's  no  villanies  new), 

Those  halfe-Turkes  and  halfe  Christians,  who  now  ride 

Like  sea-gods  (on  rough  billows  in  their  pride), 

Those  renegadoes,  who  (their  Christ  denying) 

Are  worse  than  Turkes,  Turkes  them  in  heart  defying ; 

These,  these  are  they,  that  have  from  Christians  torne, 

Of  ships,  sixescore  but  one,  and  the  men  borne 

(To  th'  number  of  a  thousand)  to  th'  Turkes  shore, 

All  they  being  slaves  now  tugging  at  the  oare. 

Count  from  what  time  the  worthy  Mansfield  came 

From  that  divels  den  (Argiers).  .  .  .  Just  since  that  flame 

Of  warre  went  out  at  sea,  in  that  short  space 

From  thence  till  now  these  thieves  have  held  in  chase 

All  ships  which  pass'd  the  Straights  of  Gibraltar, 

To  rob  or  sinke  them  ;  were  they  men  of  warre, 

Merchants,  or  others  ;  and  when  worst  they  thrive 

And  nothing  get,  yet  get  they  men  alive. 

O  wretched  state  of  Christian  soules  so  taken  ! 

To  looke  upon  whose  torments  would  awaken 

Tyrants,  to  thrust  their  armes  up,  through  their  graves, 

To  gard  from  blowes  these  Christian  galley-slaves. 

They  that  could  safely  stand  but  on  the  shoare 

To  view  a  sea-fight,  heare  the  cannons  roare, 

See  Turkes  boord  English  ships,  whilest  Englishmen 

Like  lyons  fight,  and  fling  them  o're.  .  .  .  But  when 

Numbers  of  big-boan'd  runnagates  so  swarme, 

That  not  one  man  of  ours  dare  lift  an  arme 

At  a  Turkes  head,  the  ship  with  blood  imbrude, 

And  over-mastered  with  damn'd  multitude, 

Should  any  stand  so,  and  get  off  unwounded, 

They  would,  to  see  this,  bee  with  griefe  confounded : 

But  on  these  following  lines  fasten  your  eyes, 

Your  selves  may  draw  foorth  all  their  miseries. 

Being  boorded  so,  and  rob'd,  then  are  they  tide 

On  chaines,  and  drag'd  t'  Argiers,  to  feede  the  pride 

Of  a  Mahumetan  dog  (eight  in  a  row) 

(Each  eighth  man  to  the  Argier  king  must  goe), 

And  th'  eighth  part  of  what's  tane  is  still  his  prize ; 

What  men  he  leaves  are  any- ones  who  buyes 

And  bids  most  for  them,  for  they  then  are  led 

To  market,  and  like  beasts  sold  by  the  head, 

Their  masters  having  liberty  by  law 

To  strike,  kick,  starve  them,  yet  to  make  them  draw 

In  yoakes,  like  oxen,  and  if  dead  they  beate  them, 

Out  are  they  throwne  for  beasts  and  ravens  to  eate  them 


PRISONERS  IN  ARGIERS  33 

He  that's  condemn'd  to  th'  oare  hath  first  his  face, 

Eyebrowes,  and  head  close  shaven  (for  more  disgrace 

Cannot  betide  a  Christian).      Then,  being  stript 

To  th'  girdle  (as  when  roagues  are  to  be  whipt), 

Chain'd  are  they  to  the  seates  where  they  sit  rowing, 

Five  in  a  row  together ;  a  Turke  going 

On  a  large  plancke  between  them,  and  though  their  eyes 

Are  ready  to  start  out  with  pulling,  he  cryes 

■  Worke,  worke,  you  Christian  curres,'and  though  none  needs 

One  blow  for  loytering,  yet  his  bare  back  bleeds, 

And  riseth  up  in  bunches,  which  the  Turke 

With  a  bulls-pizzle  gives  him,  crying  still,  '  Worke, 

Worke,  dog,'  whilest  some  so  faint,  at  th'  oare  th[ejy  dye, 

Being  cast  (like  dogs)  over-boord  presently. 

Their  slavery  done  at  Sea,  then  are  they  laid 

In  dungeons,  worse  than  jayles,  poorely  arraid, 

Fed  with  course  horse-bread,  water  for  their  drinke, 

And  such  sometimes  puddles  cannot  worser  stinke. 

Then  if  upon  a  Turkish  roague  they  frowne, 

Or  give  him  a  crosse  word,  held  are  they  downe 

Oth'  ground  upon  their  backs,  whilst  on  the  rim 

Of  their  bare  bellies  they  are  forc'd  from  him 

To  beare  four  hundred  blowes :  their  soles  oth'  feet 

And  shinnes  like  payment  now  and  then  doe  meet. 

Why  are  the  Turkes  thus  cruell,  but  to  draw 

Christians  from  Christ  to  their  Mahumetan  law  ? 

You,  who  at  home  in  golden  pleasures  dance, 

Wasting  both  noones  and  nights  in  dalliance, 

O  when  these  groanes  of  Christians  pierce  [yjour  eares 

To  free  them,  give  your  charity,  and  your  teares, 

Whilst  you  that  are  our  Christian  Princes  stil'd 

(All  jarres  amongst  your  selves  being  reconcil'd) 

Into  the  field  with  one  knit  army  come, 

To  kill  this  lyon  that  thus  teares  Christendome. 


34  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

THE  HONOUR   OF  BRISTOL. 

Showing  how  the  Angel  Gabriel  of  Bristol  fought 
with  three  (Spanish)  Ships,  who  boarded  us 
many  times,  whereon  we  cleared  our  decks,  and 
killed  five  hundred  of  their  men,  and  wounded 
many  more,  and  made  them  flye  into  Cales, 
where  we  lost  but  three  men  ;  to  the  honour  of 
the  Angel  Gabriel  of  Bristol. 

To  the  Tune  of  Our  Noble  King  in  his  Progress. 

Attend  you  and  give  ear  awhile,  and  you  shall  understand 
Of  a  battel  fought  upon  the  seas,  by  a  ship  of  brave  command  ; 
The  fight  it  was  so  famous,  that  all  men's  heart  doth  fill, 
And  makes  them  cry,  '  To  sea,  with  the  Angel  Gabriel  \ 

The  lusty  ship  of  Bristol  sail'd  out  adventurously, 
Against  the  foes  of  England,  their  strength  with  them  to  try  j 
Well  victual'd,  rig'd,  and  man'd,  and  good  provision  still : 
Which  makes  men  cry,  '  To  sea,  with  the  Angel  Gaoriel ! 

The  captain,  famous  Netheway,  so  was  he  call'd  by  name  ; 
The  master's  name  John  Mines,  a  man  of  noted  fame  ; 
The  gunner  Thomas  Watson,  a  man  of  perfect  skill : 
With  other  valiant  hearts,  in  the  Angel  Gabriel 

Thev  waving  up  and  down  the  seas,  upon  the  ocean  main  : 

'  It  is  not  long  ago,'  quoth  they,  '  since  England  fought   with 

Would  we  with  them  might  meet,  our  minds  for  to  fulfill ; 
We  would  play  a  noble  bout  with  our  Angel  Gabriel: 

They  had  no  sooner  spoken,  but  straight  appear'd  in  sight 
Three  lusty  Spanish  vessels,  of  warlike  force  and  might ; 
With  bloody  resolution  they  sought  our  men  to  spill, 
And  vow'd  to  make  a  prize  of  our  Angel  Gabriel 

Then  first  came  up  their  admiral,  themselves  for  to  advance  ; 
In  her  she  bore  full  forty-eight  piece  of  ordinance ; 
The  next  that  then  came  near  us  was  their  vice-admiral, 
Which  shot  most  furiously  at  our  Angel  Gabriel 


THE  ANGEL    GABRIEL  35 

Our  gallant  ship  had  in  her  full  forty  fighting  men  : 
With  twenty  pieces  of  ordnance  we  play'd  about  them  then  ; 
And  with  powder,  shot,  and  bullets  we  did  imploy  them  still, 
And  thus  began  the  fight  with  our  Angel  Gabriel. 

Our  captain  to  our  master  said,  '  Take  courage,  master  bold  ; ' 
The  master  to  the  seamen  said,  '  Stand  fast,  my  hearts  of  gold  ; ' 
The  gunner  unto  all  the  rest,  'Brave  hearts,  be  valiant  still  ; 
Let  us  fight  in  the  defence  of  our  Angel  Gabriel ! ' 

Then  we  gave  them  a  broadside,  which  shot  their  mast  asunder, 
And  tore  the  bowsprit  of  their  ship,  which  made  the  Spaniards 

wonder  ; 
And  caused  them  for  to  cry,  with  voices  loud  and  shrill, 
'  Help  !  help  !  or  else  we  sink,  by  the  Angel  Gabriel? 

Yet  desperately  they  boarded  us,  for  all  our  valiant  shot  ; 
Threescore  of  their  best  fighting-men  upon  our  decks  were  got, 
And  then  at  their  entrance  full  thirty  we  did  kill, 
And  thus  we  clear'd  the  decks  of  the  Angel  Gabriel. 

With  that  their  three  ships  boarded  us  again  with  might  and  main, 
But  still  our  noble  Englishmen  cry'd  out,  '  A  fig  for  Spain  ! ' 
Though  seven  times  they  boarded  us,  at  last  we  shew'd  our  skill, 
And  made  them  feel  the  force  of  our  Angel  Gabriel. 

Seven  hours  this  fight  continued,  and  many  brave  men  lay  dead, 
With  purple  gore  and  Spanish  blood  the  sea  was  coloured  red  ; 
Five  hundred  of  their  men  we  there  outright  did  kill  ; 
And  many  more  were  maim'd  by  the  Angel  Gabriel. 

They  seeing  of  these  bloody  spoils,  the  rest  made  haste  away. 
For  why  ?  they  saw  it  was  no  boot  any  longer  for  to  stay ; 
Then  they  fled  into  Cales,  and  there  they  must  lye  still, 
For  they  never  more  will  dare  to  meet  our  Angel  Gabriel. 

We  had  within  our  English  ship  but  onely  three  men  slain  ; 
And  five  men  hurt,  the  which,  I  hope,  will  soon  be  well  again  ; 
At  Bristol  we  were  landed,  and  let  us  praise  God  still, 
That  thus  hath  blest  our  men  and  our  Angel  Gabriel. 

Now  let  me  not  forget  to  speak  of  the  gift  given  by  the  owner 
Of  the  Angel  Gabriel,  that  many  years  has  known  her  ; 
Two  hundred  pounds  in  coyn  and  plate  he  gave  with  free  good  will 
Unto  them  that  bravely  fought  in  the  Angel  Gabriel. 

[Probably  by  Lawrence  Price.] 

d  2 


36  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 


NEPTUNE   TO  ENGLAND. 

Of  thee,  great  State,  the  god  of  waves 
In  equall  wrongs  assistance  craves, 

Defend  thyselfe  and  mee  : 
For  if  ore  seas  there  be  no  sway, 
My  godhead  cleane  is  tane  away, 

The  scepter  pluckt  from  thee. 
Such  as  ore  seas  all  sovereigntie  oppose, 
Though  seeming  friends,  to  both  are  truly  foes. 

If  little  Venice  brings  alone 
Such  waves  to  her  subjection, 

As  in  the  Gulfe  doe  stirre, 
What  then  should  great  Britannia  please, 
But  rule  as  ladie  ore  all  seas, 

And  thou  as  queen  of  her  ? 
For  sea-dominion  may  as  well  be  gain'd 
By  new  acquests,  as  by  descent  maintain'd. 

Goe  on,  great  state,  and  make  it  knowne, 
Thou  never  wilt  forsake  thine  owne, 

Nor  from  thy  purpose  start  : 
But  that  thou  wilt  thy  power  dilate, 
Since  narrow  seas  are  found  too  straight 

For  thy  capacious  heart. 
So  shall  thy  rule,  and  mine,  have  large  extent : 
Yet  not  so  large,  as  just  and  permanent. 


ON  HIS  MAJESTIES  FLEET. 

Cease  now  the  talke  of  wonders,  nothing  rare 
Of  floateing  ilandes,  castles  in  the  aire, 
Of  wooden  walls,  graves  walkeing,  flieing  steedes, 
Or  Trojan  horse.     The  present  truth  exceeds 
Those  ancient  fables  ;  floating  iles  great  store, 
Sent  from  the  British  He,  now  guard  her  shore, 
And  castles  strong  without  foundation  stande 
More  safe  on  waters  pavement  then  on  lande. 


FLEET  OF  CHARLES  L  37 

Now  wooden  walles  defend  our  walles  of  rocke  ; 
These  walles  are  cittyes  too  ;  tooke  from  the  block 
Arise  tho^e  christned  frames,  which  are  the  health 
And  moddle  of  a  vaster  Commonwealth  ; 
Beyond  the  Kentish  stratagem  now  ghosts 
Of  trees  not  greene  doe  walk  about  our  coasts, 
Which  humane  art  hath  made  move  quick,  by  death 
Inur'd  to  motion,  taught  to  feed  on  breath. 
Now  winged  steeds  with  bridles  plac'd  behinde, 
Leaving  no  print,  accompany  the  winde, 
Their  bowells  greate  with  sonns  of  Mars  doth  groane 
To  be  delivered  into  action. 
Ride  on,  Arts  liveing  creatures,  flie  and  swell 
Your  wings  like  angry  swans,  while  wee  that  dwell 
On  shore,  with  prayer  and  fame  [?]  encrease  the  gale 
Which  Heaven  shall  breath  into  each  pregnant  saile, 
Powre  out  the  language  of  a  chastning  Jove 
That  speakes  in  thunder  here,  like  him  above. 
Cannot  your  Lion  roare  and  act  her  king  ? 
Is  shee  with  all  her  Whelpes  not  swift  to  bringe 
Her  pray  into  her  den  ?     Is  not  your  Rose 
Worth  lilies  three,  or  any  flower  that  growes? 
Your  Honour  (which  is  admirall)  maintaine  ; 
She  leades  you  forth,  come  home  to  her  againe. 
For  sea  and  fish,  if  tempests  rise,  bee  free[?]. 
Give  them  to  what  they  love,  that  troublers  bee  [?]. 


UPON  THE    GREAT  SHIP. 


Old  Paul's  steeple,  fare  thee  well, 
Thy  famous  building  He  not  tell, 
Of  that  thy  lofty  little  bell 

Shall  ring. 
But  I  am  in  another  vaine, 
Now  you  shall  heare  a  merry  straine, 
It  is  of  Royal  Soveraigne 

I  sing. 


38  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 


2' 

I  meane  the  ship  so  lately  built, 
Without,  within  soe  richly  gilt ; 

0  never  man  saw  rapier  hilt 

Soe  shine. 

1  think  there's  none  since  Noah's  Flood 
Was  ever  like  to  prove  soe  good  ; 

You  never  saw  thing  made  of  wood 

Soe  fine. 


Edgar  sitts  horse,  in  glorious  wise 
As  glorious  artists  could  devise, 
And  under  seven  kings  prostrate  lyes. 

I'me  told 
His  horse  with  mettle  soe  abounds 
That  he  shall  shortly  scowre  the  Downes, 
And  winne,  He  hold,  a  hundred  pounds 

Of  gold. 


To  tell  you  of  her  bredth,  her  length, 

Her  height,  her  depth,  her  bulk,  her  strength, 

Her  anchor's  weight  too,  and  the  length 

Oth'  cable, 
Her  guns,  her  tackle  and  the  rest 
Quce  nunc  proscribere  longu-m  est, 
It  might  be  counted  for  a  ieast 

Or  fable  ; 


For  there  be  very  few  will  guesse 
Her  half  a  mile  or  little  lesse, 
Her  lanthorne  to  feast  forty  messe 

Unbidd, 
Her  mast  for  to  be  thrice  as  high 
As  Grantham  steeple.     If  I  lye 
Ask  them  that  saw  her,  pray,  for  I 

Nere  did. 


To  see  how  lasses  flock  each  clay, 

And  leave  their  maydenheads  by  th'  way, 

I  doubt  that  some  will  shortly  pay 

Dearely  ; 


SOVEREIGN  OF   THE  SEAS         39 

And  most  men  wives  will  alsoe  goe 
[To  'tj  whe'r  their  hussbands  will  or  noe 
To  meet  a  freind,  I  don't  say  soe, 

Not  I. 


There's  many  more  will  see  this  sight ; 
Some  call  their  wives,  and  they  doe  right, 
But  some  with  others  to  delight 

Are  bent. 
Thus  good  and  bad  and  midling  some, 
To  see  this  ship,  to  Woolwich  come, 
This  wonder  of  all  Christendome 

And  Kent. 

8 

Kent  was  never  conquered  yet, 
Kent  was  thought  a  place  most  fitt 
To  build  this  goodly  arke  in  it, 

Soe  stronge. 
Kent  and  men  of  Kent  have  showne 
By  sea,  by  land,  that  of  their  owne 
Which  other  countries  have  not  knowne 

Soe  long. 

9 

Yet  a  word  or  two  in  merriment 
To  cheer  up  some  were  discontent, 
And  thought  theire  mony  had  bin  lent 

In  vaine  ; 
But  now  the  truth  they  plainely  see, 
They  all  in  one  consent  agree 
To  double  it  if  need  shalbe 

Againe. 

10 

She  will  be  Neptune's  greatest  grace ; 
She  vows  our  chiefest  foes  to  chase, 
And  Triton  with  triforked  mace 

Doth  sweare 
Noe  Remora  there  shall  her  stay, 
Leviathan  must  give  her  way, 
And  all  the  divills  that  this  day 

Dwell  there. 


4o  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 


ii 

The  syrens  sitt  and  sweetly  sing, 
And  hold  it  for  a  happy  thing 
That  now  they  shall  enioy  the  King 

Oth'  mayne, 
And  say  it's  a  most  Christian  worke 
To  curb  the  Pope  and  scourge  the  Turke, 
And  ferret  those  that  theeving  lurke 

Neer  Spaine. 
12 

Our  freinds  are  glad  and  mirth  doe  make, 
Our  foes  are  sad,  their  hearts  doe  quake, 
Soe  some  doe  laugh,  and  some  doe  shake 

For  woe, 
And  I  amongst  the  rest  make  sport, 
Singing  to  you  in  civill  sort, 
And  if  you  have  not  thank'd  me  for't 

Then  doe. 


God  blesse  King  Charles  with  length  of  daies, 
That  doth  deserve  immortal  praise, 
In  this  and  many  thousand  waies 

Our  guide. 
God  blesse  the  Queen  and  ship  so  tall, 
God  blesse  the  great,  God  blesse  the  small, 
The  blade  that  made  this  song  and  all 

Beside. 


SAYLORS  FOR  MY  MONEY. 

A  new  Ditty  composed  in  the  praise  of  Saylors 
and  Sea  Affaires,  briefly  showing  the  nature  of  so 
worthy  a  calling,  and  effects  of  their  industry. 

To  the  Tune  of  Tlu  Iovial  Cobbler. 

Countrie  men  of  England,  who  live  at  home  with  ease, 
And  little  thinke  what  dangers  are  incident  o'  th'  seas, 
Give  eare  unto  the  saylor  who  unto  you  will  shew 
His  case,  his  case :  hoiv  ere  the  winde  doth  blow. 


SAYLORS  FOR   MY  MONEY         41 

He  that  is  a  saylor  must  have  a  valiant  heart, 
For,  when  he  is  upon  the  sea,  he  is  not  like  to  start ; 
But  must  with  noble  courage  all  dangers  undergoe  : 
Resolve,  resolve  :  how  e're  the  wind  doth  blow. 

Our  calling  is  laborious,  and  subject  to  much  [care] ; 
But  we  must  still  contented  be  with  what  falls  to  our  share. 
R     must  not  be  faint-hearted,  come  tempest,  raine  or  snow, 
Nor  shrinke  :  nor  shrinke  :  how  e're  the  ivinde  doth  blowe. 

Sometimes  on  Neptune's  bosome  our  ship  is  tost  with  waves, 
And  every  minute  we  expect  the  sea  must  be  our  graves. 
Sometimes  on  high  she  mounteth,  then  falls  againe  as  low  : 
With  waves  :   with  waves  :  when  stormie  winds  do  blow. 

Then  with  unfained  prayers,  as  Christian  duty  bindes, 
Wee  turne  unto  the  Lord  of  hosts,  with  all  our  hearts  and  minds  ; 
To  Him  we  flie  for  succour,  for  He,  we  surely  know, 
Can  save  :  can  save  :  how  ere  the  wind  doth  blow. 

Then  He  who  [brake]  the  rage  [of]  the  rough  and  blustrous  seas, 
When  His  disciples  were  afraid,  will  straight  the  stormes  apease  ; 
And  give  us  cause  to  thanke,  on  bended  knees  full  low : 
Who  saves  :   who  saves  :  how  ere  the  wind  doth  blow. 

Our  enemies  approaching,  when  wee  on  sea  espie, 
Wee  must  resolve  incontinent  to  fight,  although  we  die  ; 
With  noble  resolution  we  must  oppose  our  foe 

In  fight,  in  fight :  how  ere  the  wind  doth  blow. 

And  when,  by  God's  assistance,  our  foes  are  put  to  th'  foile, 
To  animate  our  courages  wee  all  have  share  o'  th'  spoile. 
Our  foes  into  the  ocean  we  back  to  back  do  throw, 

To  sinke,  or  swimme  :  how  ere  the  wind  doth  blow. 

Thus  wee  gallant  sea-men,  in  midst  of  greatest  dangers, 
Doe  alwaies  prove  our  valour,  wee  never  are  no  changers  ; 
But  what  soe  ere  betide  us,  wee  stoutly  undergoe, 
Resolv'd,  resolv'd  :  how  ere  the  wind  doth  blow. 

If  fortune  doe  befriend  us,  in  what  we  take  in  hand, 
Wee  prove  our  selves  still  generous  wherere  we  come  to  land  ; 
Ther's  few  that  shall  out  brave  us,  though  neere  so  great  in  show 
We  spend,  and  lend  :  how  ere  the  wind  doth  blow. 


42  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

We  travell  to  the  Indies,  from  them  we  bring  som  spice ; 
There  we  buy  rich  merchandise  at  very  little  price  ; 
And  many  wealthy  prizes  we  conquer  from  the  foe 
In  fight,  in  fight :  how  ere  the  wind  doth  blow. 

Into  our  native  country  with  wealth  we  doe  returne, 
And  cheere  our  wives  and  children,  who  for  our  absence  mourne 
Then  doe  we  bravely  flourish,  and  where  soe  ere  we  goe 
We  roare  :  we  roare  :  hoiv  ere  the  wind  doth  blow. 

For  when  we  have  received  our  wages  for  our  paynes 
The  vintners  and  the  tapsters  by  us  have  golden  gaines. 
We  call  for  liquor  roundly,  and  pay  before  we  goe  : 

And  sing  :  and  drink  :   how  ere  the  wind  doth  blow. 

We  bravely  are  respected  when  we  walke  up  and  downe, 
For  if  wee  meete  good  company  wee  care  not  for  a  crowne  ; 
Ther's  none  more  free  than  saylors,  where  ere  he  come  or  goe, 
They'll  roare  o'  th'  shore  :  how  ere  the  winde  doth  blow. 

Then  who  would  live  in  England  and  no[u]rish  vice  with  ease, 
When  hee  that  is  in  povertie  may  riches  get  o'  th'  seas  ? 
Let's  saile  unto  the  Indies,  where  golden  grass  doth  grow  : 
To  sea,  to  sea :  how  ere  the  witid  doth  blow. 

M[artin]  P[arker]. 


THE  JOVIAL  MARRINER;    OR,    THE  SEA-MAN'S 

RENO  WN. 

Sail  forth,  bold  sea-men,  plough  the  liquid  main  ; 
Fear  neither  storms  nor  pirats,  strive  for  gain  ; 
Whilst  others  sleep  at  home  in  a  whole  skin 
Your  brave  adventures  shall  great  honours  win. 

To  the  Tune  of  I  am  a  Jovial  Batchelor,  etc.    [By]  J.  P. 

I  am  a  jovial  marriner  :  our  calling  is  well  known  ; 
We  trade  with  many  a  foreigner  to  purchase  high  renown  ; 
We  serve  our  country  faithfully,  and  bring  home  store  of  gold ; 
We  do  our  business  manfully,  for  we  are  free  and  bold. 

A  sea-man  hath  a  valiant  heart,  and  bears  a  noble  minde  ; 

He  scorneth  once  to  shrink  or  start  for  any  stormy  wind. 


THE  JOVIAL   MARRINER  43 

Tis  known  what  hardships  we  endure  abroad  upon  the  seas, 
Whilst  others  sleep  at  home  secure,  and  spend  their  time  in  ease  ; 
We  seldom  dare  lie  down  to  rest,  lest  danger  should  ensue  ; 
Our  heads  with  care  is  sore  opprest :  beleeve  me,  it  is  true  ! 
,-/  sea-man  hath  a  valiant  heart,  etc. 

A  cowardly  spirit  must  not  think  to  prove  a  sea-man  bold, 
For  to  be  sure  he  may  not  shrink  in  dangers  manifold  ; 
When  sea-fights  happen  on  the  main,  and  dreadful  cannons  rore, 
Then  all  men  fight,  or  else  be  slain  [and  braggarts  proud  look 
poor. 

A  sea-man  hath  a  valiant  Juart,  etc.] 

'Tis  sea-men  stout  that  doth  deserve  both  honour  and  renown  ; 
In   perils   great  we  may   not   swerve,  though  Neptune  seem  to 

frown  ; 
If  once  his  curled  front  we  spy,  drencht  in  the  foamy  brine, 
Then  each  man  doth  his  business  ply,  there's  none  that  doth 

repine. 

A  sea-man  hath  [a  valiant  heart],  etc. 

When  angry  billows  brush  the  skye,  most  hideous  to  behold, 
Then  up  our  ships  are  tost  on  high,  and  with  the   waves  are 

roull'd  ; 
When  tempest  fierce  our  sails  doth  tear,  and  rends  the  masts 

asunder, 
O  !  then  we  have  great  cause  to  fear,  or  else  it  were  a  wonder. 
A  sea-man  hath  [a  valiant  heart],  etc. 

Great  rocks  which  lye  amongst  the  waves  do  threaten  us  with 

death, 
And   many   sea-men    finde   their  graves   in    sands   which    are 

beneath  ; 
To  see  the  masts  of  ships  appear,  which  hath  been  cast  away, 
Would  make  a  land-man  dye  with  fear,  'tis  best  at  home  to  stay. 
A  sea-man  hath  a  valiant  heart,  and  dears  a  noble  minde,  etc. 

Brave  England  hath  been  much  inricht  by  art  of  navigation ; 
Great  store  of  wealth  we  home  have  fetched  for  to  adorn  our 

nation  : 
Our  merchants  still  we  do  supply  with  traffick  that  is  rare  ; 
Then,  sea-men,  cast  your  caps  on  high,  we  are  without  compare. 

A  sea-man  hath  a  valiant  heart,  and  bears  a  noble  minde  ; 

lie  scorneth  once  to  shrink  or  start  for  any  stormy  wind. 


44  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Who  should  the  ladies'  pallats  please,  with  spices  of  the  best, 
If  sea-men  all  should  take  their  ease,  and  stay  at  home  to  rest  ? 
Our  gallants  they  would  finde  a  want  of  silks  to  make  them  fine, 
And  tearing  boyes  no  more  would  rant  if  once  they  wanted  wine. 
A  sea-man  hath  [a  valiant  heart],  etc. 

Our  land  it  would  invaded  be  if  sea-men  were  not  stout ; 
We  let  our  friends  come  in  on  sea,  and  keep  out  foes  without  ; 
Our  privilege  upon  the  seas  we  bravely  do  maintain, 
And  can  enlarge  it  when  we  please  in  Royal  Charles  his  reign. 
A  sea-man  hath  \a  valiant  heart],  etc. 

Such  countries  as  do  lie  remote  doth  tremble  at  our  fame, 
For  we  have  taught  them  all  to  note  'tis  England  bears  the  name  : 
In  foreign  parts  where  ere  we  come  our  valour  is  well  known, 
What  ere  they  be  they  dare  not  mumm,  if  we  say  all's  our  own. 
A  sea-man  hath  [a  valiant  heart],  etc. 

When  as  our  ships  with  merchandize  are  safely  come  to  shore, 
No  men  like  us  under  the  skies  to  drink,  to  sing,  and  rore  ; 
Good  wine  and  beer  we  freely  tope,  until  the  ground  look  blew  : 
We  value  neither  Turk  nor  Pope,  we  are  a  jovial  crew. 
A  sea-man  hath  [a  valiant  heart],  etc. 

We  kiss  our  wives  when  we  return,  who  long  for  us  did  wait, 
And  he  that's  single  need  not  mourn,  he  cannot  want  a  mate : 
Young  women  still  are  wondrous  kinde  to  sea-men  in  their  need  ; 
And  sure  it  shows  a  courteous  minde  to  do  a  friendly  deed. 
A  sea-man  hath  [a  valiant  heart],  etc. 

With  pretty,  courteous,  dainty  knacks  we  please  the  females  well, 
We  know  what  longing  women  lacks,  most  surely  we  can  tell  ; 
A  sea-man  is  a  cock  o'  th'  game,  young  maidens  find  it  true  ; 
We  never  are  so  much  to  blame  to  let  them  want  their  due. 
A  sea-man  hath  \a  valiant  heart],  etc. 

Thus,  gallant  sea-men,  I  have  spread  abroad  your  high  renown, 

Which  shall  survive  when   you   are   dead,   and   gain  a   lasting 
crown : 

Your  praise  to  future  ages  shall  most  gloriously  appear ; 

Then  courage,  noble  sea-men  all,  'tis  you  I  love  most  dear. 

A  sea-man  hath  a  valiant  heart,  and  bears  a  noble  minde 
He  scorneth  once  to  shrink  or  start  for  any  stormy  wind. 


YOU  GENTLEMEN  OF  ENGLAND    45 


NEPTUNE S  RAGING   FURY;   OR,    THE  GALLANT 
SEAMAN S  SUFFERINGS. 


You  gentlemen  of  England,  that  lives  at  home  at  ease, 
Full  little  do  you  think  upon  the  dangers  of  the  seas  : 
Give  ear  unto  the  marriners,  and  they  will  plainly  show, 
The  cares  and  the  fears  when  the  stormy  winds  do  blow. 

All  you  that  will  be  seamen  must  bear  a  valiant  heart, 

For  when  you  come  upon  the  seas  you  must  not  think  to  start, 

Nor  once  to  be  faint-hearted  in  hail,  rain,  or  snow, 

Nor  to  shrink,  nor  to  shrink  when  the  stormy  winds  do  blow. 

The  bitter  storms  and  tempests  poor  seamen  must  endure, 
Both  day  and  night,  with  many  a  fright,  we  seldom  rest  secure  ; 
Our  sleep  it  is  disturbed  with  visions  strange  to  know, 
And  with  dreams  on  the  streams,  when  the  stormy  winds  do  bLw. 

In  claps  of  roaring  thunder  which  darkness  doth  enforce, 
We  often  find  our  ship  to  stray  beyond  our  wonted  course, 
Which  causeth  great  distractions,  and  sinks  our  hearts  full  low  ; 
'Tis  in  vain  to  complain  when  the  stormy  winds  do  blow. 

Sometimes  in  Neptune's  bosom  our  ship  is  tost  in  waves 

And  every  man  expecting  the  sea  to  be  their  graves  : 

Then  up  aloft  she  mounteth  and  down  again  so  low  ; 

'Tis  with  waves,  oh  !  with  waves,  when  t/ie  stormy  winds  do  blow. 

Then   down   again   we   fall    to    prayer  with  all  our  might  and 

thought ; 
When  refuge  all  doth  fail  us  'tis  that  must  bear  us  out ; 
To  God  we  call  for  succour,  for  He  it  is,  we  know, 
That  must  aid  us  and  save  us  when  the  stormy  winds  do  blow. 

The  lawyer  and  the  usurer  that  sits  in  gown  of  fur, 

In  closets  warm,  can  take  no  harm,  abroad  they  need  not  stir  ; 

When  winter  fierce  with  cold  doth  pierce,  and  beats  with  hail  and 

snow, 
We  are  sure  to  endure  when  the  stormy  tvinds  do  blow. 


46  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

We  bring  home  costly  merchandise,  and  jewels  of  great  price 
To  serve  our  English  gallantry  with  many  a  rare  device  ; 
To  please  the  English  gallantry  our  pains  we  freely  show, 
For  we  toyl  and  we  moile  when  the  stormy  winds  do  blow. 


We  sometimes  sail  to  the  Indies  to  fetch  home  spices  rare, 
Sometimes  again  to  France  and  Spain  for  wines  beyond  compare 
Whilst  gallants  are  carousing  in  taverns  on  a  row 
Then  we  sweep  o'er  the  deep  when  the  stormy  winds  do  blow. 

When  tempests  are  blown  over,  and  greatest  fears  are  past, 
In  weather  fair  and  temperate  air,  we  straight  lie  down  to  rest : 
But  when  the  billows  tumble  and  waves  do  furious  grow 
Then  we  rouse,  up  we  rouse  when  the  stormy  winds  do  blow. 

If  enemies  oppose  us,  when  England  is  at  wars 
With  any  foreign  nations  we  fear  not  wounds  and  scars ; 
Our  roaring  guns  shall  teach  'em  our  valour  for  to  know, 
Whilst  they  reel  in  the  keel  when  the  stor?ny  winds  do  blow. 

We  are  no  cowardly  shrinkers,  but  Englishmen  true  bred ; 
We'll  play  our  parts  like  valiant  hearts,  and  never  fly  for  dread  ; 
We'll  ply  our  business  nimbly,  where'er  we  come  or  go 
With  our  mates,  to  the  Straits,  when  the  stormy  winds  do  blow. 

Then  courage  all,  brave  mariners,  and  never  be  dismayed ; 
Whilst  we  have  bold  adventure[r]s  we  ne'er  shall  want  a  trade  ; 
Our  merchants  will  employ  us  to  fetch  them  wealth,  we  know  ; 
Then  be  bold,  work  for  gold,  when  the  stormy  winds  do  blow. 

When  we  return  in  safety  with  wages  for  our  pains 

The  tapster  and  the  vintner  will  help  to  share  our  gains ; 

We'll  call  for  liquor  roundly  and  pay  before  we  go, 

Then  we'll  roar  on  the  shore  when  the  stormy  winds  do  blow. 


THE   FIGHT  AT  MA L AGO  47 


THE  FAMOUS  FIGHT  AT  MALA  GO ;  OR,    THE 
ENGLISHMEN S  VICTORY  OVER  THE  SPANIARDS: 

Relating  how  Five  English  Frigats,  viz.  the  Henry, 
Ritby,  A nte lope,  Greykottnd,  and  Bryan,  burnt 
all  the  Spanish  Ships  in  their  Harbour  at 
Malago  ;  battered  down  their  Churches  and  their 
Houses  about  their  ears,  killed  abundance  of  their 
Men,  and  obtained  an  Honourable  Victory. 

Where  ever  English  seamen  goes 
They  are  a  terror  to  their  foes. 

To  the  Tune  [its  own]  of  Five  Sail  of  Frigats  bound  for  Malago,  etc. 

Come  all  you  brave  sailors  that  sails  on  the  ma 
I'll  tell  you  of  a  fight  that  was  lately  in  Spain ; 
And  of  five  sail  of  frigats  bound  to  Malago 
For  to  fight  the  proud  Spaniards  ;  our  orders  was  so. 

There  was  the  Henry  and  Ruby,  and  the  Antelope  also, 
The  Grey-hound  and  the  Bryan,  for  fire-ships  must  go  ; 
But  so  bravely  we  weighed,  and  played  our  parts, 
That  we  made  the  proud  Spaniards  to  quake  in  their  hearts. 

Then  we  came  to  an  anchor  so  nigh  to  the  mould  ; 
1  Methinks  you  proud  English  do  grow  very  bold  ! ' 
But  we  came  to  an  anchor  so  near  to  the  town 
That  some  of  their  churches  we  soon  battered  down. 

They  hung  out  their  flag  of  truce,  for  to  know  our  intent, 
And  they  sent  out  their  long-boat  to  know  what  we  meant ; 
But  our  captain  he  answered  them  bravely,  it  was  so, 
'  For  to  burn  all  your  shipping  before  we  do  go.' 

'  For  to  burn  all  our  shipping  ?  You  must  us  excuse  ; 
'Tis  not  five  sail  of  frigats  shall  make  us  to  muse  ! ' — 
But  we  burnt  all  their  shipping,  and  their  gallies  also  ; 
And  we  left  in  the  city  full  many  a  widow. 


' 


48  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

'  Come  then,'  says  our  captain,  '  let's  fire  at  the  church  ! ' 
And  down  came  their  belfrey,  which  grieved  them  much  ; 
And  down  came  the  steeple,  which  standeth  so  high, 
Which  made  the  proud  Spaniards  to  the  nunnery  fly. 

So  great  a  confusion  we  made  in  the  town 
That  their  lofty  buildings  came  tumbling  down ; 
Their  wives  and  their  children,  for  help  they  did  cry, 
But  none  could  relieve  them,  though  danger  was  nigh. 

The  flames  and  the  smoak  so  increased  their  woe 
That  they  knew  not  whither  to  run  or  to  go ; 
Some  to  shun  the  fire  leapt  into  the  flood, 
And  there  they  did  perish  in  water  and  mud. 

Our  guns  we  kept  firing,  still  shooting  amain, 
Whilst  many  a  proud  Spaniard  was  on  the  place  slain  ; 
The  rest,  being  amazed,  for  succour  did  cry, 
But  all  was  in  vain,  they  had  no  where  to  fly. 

At  length  being  forced,  they  thought  it  most  fit 
Unto  the  brave  English-men  for  to  submit ; 
And  so  a  conclusion  at  last  we  did  make 
Upon  such  conditions  as  was  fit  to  take. 

The  Spanish  Armado  did  England  no  harm, 
'  Twas  but  a  bravado,  to  give  us  alarm  ; 
But  with  our  five  frigats  we  did  them  bumbast, 
And  made  them  of  English-men's  valour  to  taste. 

When  this  noble  victory  we  did  obtain, 
Then  home  we  returned  to  England  again, 
Where  we  were  received  with  welcomes  of  joy, 
Because  with  five  frigats  we  did  them  destroy. 


An  Elegie  on  the  Death  of  the  Right  Honourable 
Robert  Blake,  Esq.,  One  of  the  Generals  at  Sea, 
who  departed  the  7th  of  August,  1657,  on  board 
the  George,  near  Plymouth  Sound. 

What  means  this  silence,  sirs  ?  what's  here  becom  ? 
Some  heavy  tidings  sure  hath  struck  you  dumb. 


ON   ROBERT  BLAKE  49 

Light  griefs  make  teares  distill  out  from  the  eye, 

When  great  ones  dull,  and  often  stupifie. 

What  !  is  there  none  dare  speak?     Alas  !  I  feare 

It  is  too  harsh  to  sound  in  English  eare. 

Must  my  misgiving  soul  divine  the  cause 

Of  your  sad  aspects  ?     Stay,  for  I  must  pause  : 

Is  he  that  over  Neptune  once  bore  sway. 

And  'gainst  our  foes  did  often  get  the  day  : 

Is  he  that  was  to  sea-men  their  delight, 

And  led  them  on  most  daringly  to  fight  : 

Is  he  whose  face  a  terror  strooke  ;  whose  name 

The  darling  was  of  Fortune  and  of  Fame  : 

Is  he  that  by  example  spent  his  breath, 

And  shew'd  a  new  way  how  to  out-face  Death  : 

He  that  strook  terror  wheresoere  he  came, 

And  made  his  foes  to  tremble  at  his  name — 

Speak,  is  it  true  ?     Is  noble  Blake  then  gone, 

And  left  us  here  in  dark  oblivion  ? 

Is  his  seraphick  soul  then  fled  away, 

Leaving  nought  but  his  ashes  and  his  clay  ? 

Your  silence  seems  to  say  so.    Is  he  dead  ? 

Sure  then  your  griefs  cannot  be  numbered. 

I  see  the  lasting'st  monuments  must  bend ; 

All  things  must  have  their  period  and  end. 

His  brave  example  in  our  infant  dayes 

Of  war,  when  he  alone  deserv'd  the  bayes  ; 

When  by  his  virtue  onely  Lime  held  out 

Against  a  potent  foe  both  bold  and  stout. 

Taunton  her  liberty  to  him  doth  owe, 

His  bounty  onely  did  on  her  bestow. 

Dunster,  that  pleasant  seat,  whose  lofty  tow'rs 

E'ne  peirc't  the  clouds,  did  stoop  unto  his  pow'rs 

Bridgewater  gave  him  birth,  for  that  fam'd  more, 

And  honoured,  then  ere  she  was  before. 

His  enemies  did  oft  amaz'd  stand 

When  he  held  up  his  sure  dead-doing  hand  ; 

And  Death  grew  pale  to  see  himself  out-done 

By  one  of  mortall  race.     The  setting  sun 

Oft  peep'd  abroad,  as  oft  did  blush  to  see 

Neptune  forc't  weare  his  sanguine  livery. 

Though  Death  did  often  strive  him  to  affright 

Yet  he  out-lookt  him,  made  him  mad  with  spight, 

And  when  with  open  force  he  durst  not  seise  him 

In  a  consumption  did  at  last  surprise  him. 

His  head  a  mint  of  reason  was  ;  when  he 

Once  spake  he  used  no  tautologie. 


50  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

His  arguments  dilemmas  were,  which  he 

Confirm'd  b'  example  out  of  history  : 

His  own  experience  was  so  great  that  all 

With  one  consent  still  clos'd  in  generall  : 

And  for  his  intellectualls  so  rare 

That  few  now  living  could  with  him  compare. 

A  man  that  alwayes  valued  his  word ; 

Bright  honour  ever  shining  on  his  sword  : 

To  vice  and  basenesse  ever  most  severe, 

And  to  his  friends  and  goodnesse  very  deare  : 

From  affectation  free,  and,  what  was  more, 

A  zealous  enemy  of  the  Scarlet  Whore  ; 

Whose  able  judgment  in  a  hot  dispute 

Two  of  the  stoutest  champions  did  confute, 

Deserving  to  be  (by  their  own  confession) 

His  countryes  honour  call'd  ;  twas  their  expression. 

No  charming  syren  could  his  ears  entice, 

Nor  tempting  Verus  him  allure  to  vice ; 

Nor  Cleophis  with  her  bewiching  eyes 

Ere  put  a  period  to  his  victories. 

War  was  his  mistris,  he  did  her  embrace  : 

She  hath  a  princely  and  majestiek  face ; 

She  nurst  him,  bred  him,  made  him  her  delight, 

Conducted  him  in  many  a  dreadful  fight ; 

He  was  her  darling,  she  in  him  took  pleasure, 

He  was  her  chiefest  and  her  onely  treasure. 

Though  threats  on  threats,  and  promises  succeeded 

From  Royalty,  yet  he  them  never  heeded. 

Threats  could  not  drive  him,  nor  allurements  high 

Ere  make  him  part  with  his  integrity. 

No  sceptick  in  religion  was  he  found, 

His  head  and  heart  and  principles  were  sound. 

Constant  beyond  compare,  and  to  his  nation 

A  faithfull  servant  in  his  generation  : 

No  faction  would  he  heed,  nor  plots  contrive, 

Nor  did  he  wish  that  ever  they  should  thrive ; 

And  midst  our  various  changes  still  kept  free, 

HaHng  cold  dullnesse,  base  neutrality. 

Rienes  he  valued  not,  nor  them  respect, 

Nor  glorious  titles  ever  did  affect. 

Armes  and  the  Arts  did  wondrously  comply 

In  him  to  make  a  perfect  harmony  ; 

In  both  admir'd,  in  both  he  did  excell, 

And  liv'd  and  dy'd  without  a  parallell. 

His  valour  was  diffused,  and  now  dead, 

He  the  Tenth  Worthy  may  be  reckoned 


ON  ROBERT  BLAKJi  51 

The  civick,  murall,  and  the  naval]  crown 

He  has  deserv'd,  all  due  to  his  renown. 

In  peace  he  was  a  Seneca,  in  war 

He  out-did  Mars,  still  prov'd  a  conqueror. 

No  chamber-musick  squeaking  in  the  night, 

Nor  noyce  of  vialls  did  him  much  delight ; 

The  deep-mouth'd  canons  thundring  in  his  eares 

Was  unto  him  the  musick  of  the  spheres  : 

Those  bore  the  base,  the  whistling  bullets  they 

Made  up  the  treble  on  a  fighting  day  ; 

Small  shot  division  play'd,  whose  nimble  motion 

Made  many  a  soul  drink  up  a  sleepy  potion  : 

This  was  the  musick  most  did  cheer  his  spirit, 

And  made  him  justly  so  much  prayse  to  merit. 

His  noble,  lively,  active,  vigorous  fire 

Ne're  quencht  in  him  untill  he  did  expire. 

Oh  !  how  my  soul  bemones  my  countryes  losse, 

Her  onely  genius  gone  ;  oh  !  'tis  a  crosse 

Beyond  compare,  now  hardly  felt,  but  when 

Our  sins  a  war  on  us  shall  bring  agen, 

Who  then  shall  stand  i'  th'  gap?    His  noble  arme 

Did  quail  our  home-bred,  forreign  foes  disarme. 

May  those  succeed  Elisha-like  inherit 

A  double  portion  of  Elijah's  spirit. 

The  Hollander  in  bloudy  lines  can  write 

What  harms  he  did  them  by  the  God  of  might ; 

The  Portigalls,  as  every  one  doth  know, 

Their  peace,  their  plenty,  and  their  traffique  owe 

Unto  his  worth,  when  Rupert  he  was  fain 

To  face  about  and  get  him  home  again  ; 

Loth  to  appear  with  his  poor  glow-worm  light 

When  such  a  sun  as  this  appear'd  in  sight. 

The  barbarous  pirates  upon  Tunis  strand 

Felt  the  effects  of  his  revenging  hand. 

The  Spaniards  lately  fear'd  the  name  of  Blake, 

As  once  their  children  did  the  name  of  Drake. 

What  shall  I  say  ?  his  last  attempt  so  bold 

At  the  Canaries,  it  cannot  be  told 

Unto  its  worth  ;  that  done  with  gallantry 

He  makes  his  exit  with  a  plaudite ; 

And  having  done  to  Spaine  abundant  harms, 

Comes  home  in  peace  and  dyes  free  from  allarms  : 

The  George  the  first  ship  bore  him  out,  and  then 

The  mournfull  she  that  brought  him  back  agen. 

Oh  that  some  Virgil,  for  his  greater  glory, 

Would  please  to  write  his  everlasting  story  ; 

E  2 


52  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Or  else  some  Homer  bravely  to  reherse 

His  glorious  actions  in  heroick  verse  ; 

For  me  to  limne  the  noble  act  h'  as  done, 

Is  but  to  light  a  candle  to  the  sun  : 

That  task  Tie  leave  to  some  more  able  hand 

That  view'd  his  action  both  by  sea  and  land  ; 

And  though  in  blacks  I  may  not  mourn  his  end, 

Yet  none  shall  more  bemone  him  as  a  friend. 

Or'e  death  he  is  victorious,  and  he 

Bequeaths  it  us  as  his  last  legacy. 

Now  unto  God  be  everlasting  prayse, 
That  thus  in  peace  hath  finished  his  dayes  : 
And  since  his  fatall  thred  is  quite  spun  out, 
Let's  draw  the  curtains,  put  the  candle  out, 
And  let  us  leave  him  to  his  silent  tomb, 
Free  from  all  troubles,  clos'd  up  in  the  womb 
Of  Mother  Earth  let  him  in  quiet  rest, 
Till  he  enjoy  the  choycest  and  the  best 
Of  his  desires,  in  glory  for  to  see 
His  Saviour  Christ  to  all  eternity. 


Epitaph  Acrostick 

R  est  here  in  peace  the  sacred  dust 

O  f  valiant  Blake,  the  good,  the  just, 

B  elov'd  of  all  on  every  side  ; 

E  ngland's  honour,  once  her  pride, 

R  ome's  terror,  Dutch  annoyer, 

T  ruth's  defender,  Spain's  destroyer. 

B  ring  no  dry  eyes  unto  this  place  : 
L  et  not  be  seen  in  any  case 
A  smiling  or  an  unsad  face. 
K  indie  desires  in  every  brest 
E  ternally  with  him  to  rest. 

By  Geo.  Harrison,  Gent. 
On  board  the  Dunbar  in  the  Downs,  Aug.  1 1,  1657. 


THE   SEAMEN    TO    CHARLES  II    53 

THE   VAL I A  NT  SEAMAN'S  CONGE  A  TULA  TION 
TO   HIS    SACEED    MAJESTY   KING    CHARLES    II. 

With  their  wonderfull    heroical  atchievements,  and 
their  fidelity,  loyalty,  and  obedience. 

To  the  tune  of  Let  us  drink  and  sing,  and  merrily  troul  the  bowl. 
Or,  The  stormy  winds  do  blow.     Or,  Hey  Ho,  my  Hony. 

Great  Charles,  your  English  seamen  upon  our  bended  knee, 
Present  ourselves  as  freemen,  unto  your  Majesty, 
Beseeching  God  to  blesse  you  where-ever  that  you  go, 
So  we  pray,  night  and  day,  when  the  stormy  winds  do  blow. 

In  darkest  nights,  or  shipwracks,  ahvayes  we  are  on  our  guard  : 

Of  French  or  Turkish  pirats,  we  never  were  afraid. 

But  cal'd  stout  English  sea-men  where-ever  that  we  go, 

For  we  make,  them  to  quake,  ivhen  the  stormy  winds  do  blow. 

We  are  your  valiant  sea-men  that  brought  you  out  of  Spain  : 
And  will  as  war-like  free-men  your  royal  cause  maintain. 
If  you  will  give  commission  to  wars  with  France  wee'l  go  : 
Then  shall  we,  merry  be,  whe?i  the  stormy  winds  do  blow. 

'Twas  we  did  sail  you  over  to  English  ground  agen  ; 
And  landed  you  at  Dover,  with  all  your  noble  men. 
For  which  we  are  renowned  where-ever  we  do  go  : 
Honour  will,  tend  us  still,  zuhen  the  stormy  winds  do  blow. 

And  now  we  are  a  ranging  upon  the  ocean  seas, 
The  Frenchmen  they  are  changing  and  cannot  be  at  ease, 
For  we  will  make  their  top-sailes  unto  our  fleet  shall  bow  : 
Then  shall  we,  merry  be,  when  the  stormy  winds  do  blow. 

Sometimes  our  tacklings  breaking,  our  masts  are  cut  in  two  : 
Our  ships  are  often  leaking,  great  straits  we're  put  unto. 
In  „reat  tempestuous  weather,  which  few  at  home  doth  know, 
Thus  do  we,  live  at  sea,  when  the  stormy  winds  do  blow. 

When  some  at  home  are  feeding  and  cheering  up  themselves, 
Then  we  at  sea  are  bleeding  amongst  the  rocks  and  shelves. 
Yet  greater  dangers  ready,  still  we  will  undergo, 
For  our  King,  and  will  sing,  when  the  stormy  winds  do  blow. 


54  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

oTw!™?  Tten  "I"6  Sai]in«  our  ««ua|s  they  grow  scarse 
Oui  wives  at  home  bewailing  and  pittying  of  our  caZ  ' 

For  onr  Kf  °f  V'™^  P°0re  ^anL/unde  go      ' 
For  onr  King,  still  we  sing,  when  „le  stormy  J„ds  do  ^ 

Yet  we  are  still  couragious  with  any  foe  to  fight  • 

A„a       ,°r  JrV  m?age  us  we  Put  *em  to  the  flight 

For  onr  KwThfr  "'  ■hom,*e  before  we  let  &  S°  : 
hor  our  king,  then  we  sing,  when  the  stormy  winds  do  blow. 

We  are  the  prop  of  trading,  what  kind  so  ere  it  be  • 

The  onginall  of  lading  youre  ships  with  treasury    ' 

None  goes  beyond  a  sea-man  in  riches,  gold  and  store  • 

For  he  brmgs,  wealth  to  kings,  whe„  t)I stZ™lld7 do  „bw. 

^  S^^tEE^^r  *»  would  have, 
And  cause  him  to^emem^t^phL^Sk  n^o  "'  ""* 
When  shall  we,  merry  be,  when  tl  sior.ny  w^dTio  How 

S^^^^nS!--1--- 

ENGLAND'S  VALOUR,  AND  HOLLANDS  TERROUR. 

Being  an  encouragement  for  seamen  and  souldiers 

S°Utchr,Veetc  "   MaJ6Sty  !n  HiS    WarS  ^>™  *e 

Dutchmen  beware,  we  have  a  fleet 

Will  make  you  tremble  when  you  see't, 

Mann  d  with  brave  Englishmen  of  high  renown 

Who  can  and  will  your  peacock  plunfes  puh  down  - 

Then  cease  your  boasting,  it  will  nought  availe        ' 

Vou  know  its  but  your  duty  to  strike  sayle. 

To  the  tune  of  The  stormy  winds  do  blow. 

WhJfnnlt1  h6arted  En-lish-'"en.  attend  whilst  I  declare 
\  hat  noble  preparations  is  made  for  the  Hollands  war 
For  certain  such  a  bloody  fight  hath  never  beeTbefore' 
As  is  near,  you  shall  hear,  £hen  the  cannons  loud  do  roar 


THE  DUTCH   WAR  55 

Vi„  but  our  Navy  Royal,  ^J"^***  to  n'ainc  : 
S'SSWS^'SS^l^--  >he  Dutch-*.- 
Withto  name  and  his  fame,  «ta  *  — —  *»'*  ~" 

The  care  and  !««*■*£ ^ht 25  n A  afraid  , 
Will  make  them  fight  tor  ^S"*™       &  .       did  before  ■ 

85  passes  arcAtts  ^ 

Wee^thump  their  sides  most  soundly  and  beat  them  ore  and 
In  each'fight,  for  our  right,  •!•  <*«  «— «  *■*  *  a"" 

greet :  ctands  vet  upon  the  score  : 

Then  -ta^^M^K*^^^  >'°U  SOi 

For  your  reward,  you  shall  rune ^  ;      tore  . 

Brave  Allen  our  Rear  Admiral,  it  ™*]g£A*  : 
Near  Cadiz  on  the  Spamsh  coast,  part  of Jhe bmvr 


56  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

Then  Butter-boxes  mark  your  hitts,  for  all  your  wits  are  dull, 
Wee'le  teach  you  better  manners  yet,  than  ever  did  old  Noll : 
You  then  were  basted  pretty  well,  and  forc't  to  cry  and  lower  : 
And  to  weep,  on  the  deep,  when  the  camions  loud  did  roar. 

We  have  tall  ships,  that's  newly  built,  the  best   that  e're  did 

sayl, 
We  shall  the  Flemish  vessels  pelt,  no  doubt  we  shall  prevail  : 
Our  oaken-boards  will  hold  it  out  as  well  now  as  before  ; 
Wee'le  not  flinch,  not  an  inch,  when  the  cannons  loud  do  roar. 

Then  courage  all  brave  English-men,  and  never  be  dismaid, 
But  fight  it  out  most  gallantly,  we  shall  be  nobly  paid  : 
When  we  return  with  victory,  with  gold  and  silver  store, 
Bells  shall  ring,  whilst  we  sing,  and  the  cannons  loud  shall  roar. 


SONG    WRITTEN  AT  SEA. 

To  all  you  ladies  now  at  land 

We  men  at  sea  indite  ; 
But  first  would  have  you  understand 

How  hard  it  is  to  write  ; 
The  Muses  now,  and  Neptune  too, 
We  must  implore  to  write  to  you. 

With  a  fa,  la,  la,  la,  la. 

For  though  the  Muses  should  prove  kind, 

And  fill  our  empty  brain, 
Yet  if  rough  Neptune  rouse  the  wind 

To  wave  the  azure  main, 
Our  paper,  pen,  and  ink,  and  we, 
Roll  up  and  down  our  ships  at  sea. 

Then  if  we  write  not  by  each  post, 

Think  not  we  are  unkind, 
Nor  yet  conclude  our  ships  are  lost 

By  Dutchmen,  or  by  wind ; 
Our  tears  we'll  send  a  speedier  way, 
The  tide  shall  waft  them  twice  a  day. 


I 


TO   ALL    YOU  LADIES  57 

The  King  with  wonder  and  surprise 

Will  swear  the  seas  grow  bold, 
Because  the  tides  will  higher  rise, 

Than  e'er  they  did  of  old  ; 
But  let  him  know  it  is  our  tears 
Brings  floods  of  grief  to  Whitehall-stairs. 

Should  foggy  Opdam  chance  to  know 

Our  sad  and  dismal  story, 
The  Dutch  would  scorn  so  weak  a  foe, 

And  quit  their  fort  at  Goree, 
For  what  resistance  can  they  find 
From  men  who've  left  their  hearts  behind  ? 

Let  wind  and  weather  do  its  worst, 

Be  you  to  us  but  kind, 
Lt "  Dutchmen  vapour,  Spaniards  curse, 

.."Jo  sorrow  we  shall  find  : 
Tis  then  no  matter  how  things  go, 
Or  who's  our  friend,  or  who's  our  foe. 

To  pass  our  tedious  hours  away, 

We  throw  a  merry  main, 
Or  else  at  serious  ombre  play, 

But  why  should  we  in  vain 
Each  other's  ruin  thus  pursue  ? 
We  were  undone  when  we  left  you  ! 

But  now  our  fears  tempestuous  grow 

And  cast  our  hopes  away, 
Whilst  you,  regardless  of  our  woe, 

Sit  careless  at  a  play, — 
Perhaps  permit  some  happier  man 
To  kiss  your  hand  or  flirt  your  fan. 

When  any  mournful  tune  you  hear, 

That  dies  in  every  note, 
As  if  it  sighed  with  each  man's  care, 

For  being  so  remote, 
Think  then  how  often  love  we've  made 
To  you,  when  all  those  tunes  were  played. 

In  justice  you  cannot  refuse 

To  think  of  our  distress, 
When  we  for  hopes  of  honour  lose 

Our  certain  happiness  ; 


58  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

All  those  designs  are  but  to  prove 
Ourselves  more  worthy  of  your  love. 

And  now  we've  told  you  all  our  loves, 

And  likewise  all  our  fears, 
In  hopes  this  declaration  moves 

Some  pity  from  your  tears  : 
Let's  hear  of  no  inconstancy, 
We  have  too  much  of  that  at  sea. 

With  a  fa,  la,  la,  la,  la. 
Charles  Sackville,  Earl  of  Dorset,  1665. 


THE  ROYAL    VICTORY. 

Obtained  (with  the  Providence  of  Almighty  God) 
against  the  Dutch  Fleet,  June  2  and  3,  1665. 
A  Fight  as  bloody  (for  the  time  and  number) 
as  ever  was  performed  upon  the  Narrow 
Seas,  giving  a  particular  accompt  of  ^even" 
teen  Men  of  Warr  taken  ;  Fourteen  sunk  and 
Fir'd  But  forty  that  could  escape  of  their 
whole  Fleet,  which  at  this  time  was  hotly 
persued  by  the  Earl  of  Sandwich  Their 
Admiral  Opdam  slain  by  the  Duke  of  Yorkes 
own    Frigat.      Van    Trump    sunk   by    Captain 

Holmes. 
The  number  of  their  kill'd  then  amounts  to  10,000. 

To  the  tune  of  Paekingtoris  Pound. 

Let  England,  and  Ireland,  and  Scotland  rejoyce. 
And  render  thanksgiving  with  heart  and  with  voice. 
That  surly  fanatick  that  now  will  not  sing, 
Is  false  to  the  kingdom,  and  foe  to  the  King ; 

For  he  that  will  grutch, 

Our  fortune  is  such, 
Doth  deal  for  the  devil,  as  well  as  the  Dutch  ; 
For  why  should  my  nature  or  conscience  repine, 
At  taking  of  his  life,  that  fain  would  have  mine. 


DUKE   OF   YORK'*    VICTORY        5' 

So  high  a  victory  :-o^  ™^n^;dh'and 
Had  it  not  been  gam  d  t,y  ^s        k 

?,e  handle0  Kn'g-d  Z  good  Duke  of  ^ork  , 
F°r  °°d  Whose  courage  was  such, 

Again?'nd  SSSSV  Lords  in  a  hutch  ; 
That  vapour  d  "J«^  sink,  or  swim, 
But,  let  the  bold  HolUma«  hjm 

They  have  honour  enougn 

To  strive  for  the  conqu 

To°  S^trff  God  aPnd  the  King  ; 
1  he  battel  was  hot, 

And  bloudily  foufent,      .   n  was  the  shot, 
The  fire  was  J^£&*S*d  bleed 
8?&KflE -w "re  the  Low-Dutch  indeed. 

„  this  cruel  conflict  stout  Opdjm-jWfc        ^ 
By  *e  great  Dute  of  Yokattat  ^  ^  ^  doome] 

TnTb  Te  DukDetea.our  he  «as  overcome  ; 
•  Y    It  was  his  good  fate, 

To  fall  at  that  rate. 
Who  sink  under  Princes, ^"^  1st  lye, 
Since  valour  and  courage ,m one  gr 
It  is  a  great  honour  by  greai 

That  gallant  bold  fellow,  the  son  of  Van  Trump^^ 
Whose  brains  ^rebfouty  rf  ^ 

KLt^rf  N"p'une 's  salt,  watene  bowers  : 
Retrea     H.s  fate  was  grown ,  grim, 

He  "°  '°hf  fishe"    now  fches  catch  him, 
But  he  that  caught  fi  ^  »  or  lawes, 

BurC\reyOUarefigoingto0pay  for  the  sauce. 
Because  in  the  victory  Gods  wiu 


60  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Whose  justice  appears 

In  such  great  affairs, 
Who  will  for  Amboina  plague  them  and  their  heirs  : 
For  he  that  did  cumber  his  conscience  with  gilt, 
In  shedding  of  blood,  his  own  shall  be  spilt. 

In  this  cruel  contest  (our  fortune  was  such), 

We  tooke  seventeen  men-of-war  from  the  Dutch, 

And  likewise  (as  then  the  occasion  requir'd, 

And  as  God  would  have  it)  fourteen  more  were  fir'd. 

At  Amboina,  when 

They  tortur'd  our  men, 
They  look'd  not  to  have  the  same  paid  them  agen  : 
With  fire  and  with  water  their  sinews  they  crack't, 
In  fire  and  in  water  they  dy'd  for  the  fact. 

According  as  our  God  of  battel  commanded, 
The  best  of  their  vessels  were  fir'd  and  stranded  ; 
All  ships,  men-of-war  ;  for  what  power  hath  man 
To  fight  with  that  army,  when  God  leads  the  van  ? 

They  steere  and  they  stem, 

But  'twas  so  extream, 
But  men  were  neer  dying,  with  killing  of  them ; 
They  lost,  when  the  muskets  and  cannons  so  thunder'd, 
Twice  so  many  thousand,  as  we  have  lost  hundred. 

'Twould  make  a  brave  Englishman's  heart  leap  to  see't, 
But  forty  ships  made  an  escape  of  their  fleet ; 
Which  our  men  pursue  with  much  courage  and  strength 
'Tis  doubtless  but  we  shall  surprize  them  at  length  ; 

If  God  be  our  guide, 

And  stand  by  our  side, 
We  shall  be  befriended  with  fair  wind  and  tide  ; 
If  Providence  prosper  us  with  a  good  gale, 
The  Dutch,  nor  the  devil  shall  ever  prevaile. 

Prince  Rupert  like  lightning  flew  through  their  fleet, 
Like  flame  mix'd  with  powder,  their  army  did  meet, 
Ten  thousand  slain  bodies  the  ocean  orespread, 
That  in  few  hours  distance,  were  living  and  dead  ; 

Their  Admirals  all, 

Save  one,  there  did  fall, 
And  death  had  command  like  a  chief  general. 
Brave  Smith  in  the  Mary  did  shave  out  his  way 
As  reapers  do  wheat,  or  as  mowers  do  hay. 


ENGLISH  SEAMAN'S  RESOLUTION    61 

Stout  Lawson  and  Minn  there  did  play  both  their  parts, 
Who  emptied  their  guns  in  their  enemies  heai 
The  burly  fat  Dutchmen  being  cut  out  in  slips, 
The  vessels  did  look  more  like  shambles  than  ships. 

God  prosper  the  fleete, 

And  send  they  may  meet 
He  Ruiter  to  make  up  the  conquest  compleat, 
God  bless  all  the  princes,  and  every  thing 
That  fights  for  the  kingdom  and  prayes  for  the  King. 


THE  ENGLISH  SEAMAN1  S  RESOLUTION;    OR, 
THE   LOYALL   SUBJECTS   UNDAUNTED    VALOUR. 

Plainly  demonstrating  the  justness  of  his  cause, 
Incouraging  his  friends,  to  daunt  his  foes  : 
For  King  and  countrey,  in  the  seas  he'll  perish, 
To  tame  the  rebells,  and  make  England  flourish. 

To  the  tune  of,  /  prethee  Love  turn  to  me,  or,  When  this  Old  Cap 

was  New. 

I  am  an  undaunted  seaman,  and  for  King  Charles  I  will  fight : 
Tie   venture   my  life   and  my   fortune   to    defend  my  countries 

right  : 
What  enemies  ever  oppose  us  my  valour  with  them  I  will  try, 
And   in    the    Duke's   sight,    I'me   resolved   to   fight  with  a  full 

resolution  to  dye. 

My  joyes  lies  on  the  maine  ocean,  and  my  hammock  supports 

my  head, 
The  bottom  shall    be   my  portion,   wherein  my  grave   shall  be 

made  : 
Before  the  Butter-Box  shall  my  brother  abuse,  my  crimson  blood 

it  shall  flye, 
Then  tack  about  fleet,  let  Trump  and  us  meet, /or  I  came  to  the 

seas  to  dye. 

Now  Jocky  begins  to  be  civil,  and  aloud  for  a  King  he  doth  cry  : 
The  Dutch  are  as  false  as  the  devil,  still  working  of  tretchery  : 
With  the  sound  of  our  drums,  and  smoak  of  our  guns,  we  mean 

for  to  darken  the  skie, 
For  the  Duke  and  his  fleet,  once  more  will  you  meet,  with  a  full 

resolution  to  <. 


62  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

Slip    not   your   necks  out  of  your  collars,  but  come  on  with  a 

chearful  heart : 
We  mean  to  have  some  of  your  dollars  before  that  our  fleets  do 

part : 
Then  drink  up  your  brandy-wine  cheerely,  to  Trump   and   his 

company, 
For  the  Duke  and  his  fleet,  once  more  will  you  meet,  with  a  full 

resolution  to  dye. 

Brave   General   Monck   will   defeat   you,    and   teach   you   good 

manners  to  know, 
You  know  that  before  he  did  beat  you,  and  made  you  to  cringe 

full  low : 
He'l  make  you  all  know  to  your  sorrow,  'twere  better  Peccavi  to 

cry, 
Then  for  to   stand   out,  the  tother   odd  bout,  and  in   the  seas 

perish  and  dye. 

Stout  Smith  that  noble  Commander,  of  his  valour  again  you  must 

taste  : 
He'le   shew   you   the  English  banner  and  send  you  away  at  a 

blast, 
As  Opdam  was  served  before  you,  when  into  the  aire  he  did  flie  : 
Then  you  will   repent,  that  e're  you  were   bent  upon  the  main 

ocean  to  dye. 

Brave  Holmes  and  Mimms  they  have  vowed,   for  Charles    our 

King  they  will  stand, 
The  rebells  they  shall  be  subdued  and  quell'd  in  the  turn  of  a 

hand  : 
For  whilst  that  our  ships  can  sail,  boyes,  we  scorn  a  ship's  length 

for  to  flie  : 
Pay  your  money  with  speed,  for  that  we  do  need,  or  else  come  to 

the  seas  to  dye. 

The  seas  were  never  so  graced,    with   so  many  brave   gallants 

before, 
Your  men  of  war  shall  be  chased  and  beaten  home  co  your  own 

door  : 
We'l  block  you  up  in  your  own  harbours,  and  our  cannon  bullets 

shall  flye, 
For  the  Duke  and  his  fleet,  once  more  will  you  meet  with  a  full 

resolution  to  dye. 


THE   FOUR    HAYS   FIGHT  6 


•> 


What,  must  we  still  wait  on  your  leasure,  or  is  not  your  money  yel 

coyn'd  ? 
We  nuan  to  have  some  of  your  treasure  for  no  children  o\  us  you 

shall  find  : 
We  scorn  for  to  wait  on  such  puppies,  we  have  other  fish  for  to 

fry  : 
Then  hang  up  your  States,  your  masters  and  mates,  that  sent  you 

to  seas  for  to  dye. 

Then  leave  of  your  jeering  and  mocking,  and  murmure  at  home 

and  repine, 
Tis  better  then  for  to  be  knocking  upon  the  salt  ocean  brine  : 
Then  cast  up  your  caps  and  be  merry,  brave  English  boyes  let 

them  flye, 
And  pray   for   King   Charles  and   his   navy,  and  let   the  proud 

Hollanders  dj 


ENGLAND'S   TR  YUMPH,  AND  HOLLANDS  DO  WN- 
FALL;    OR,   TLLE  SECOND  ROYAL    VLCTORY. 

Obtain'd  upon  the  Hollanders  fleet,  in  a  sea-fight, 
by  the  King  of  Great  Brittains  Royal  Navy, 
under  the  conduct  of  his  Hio-hness  Prince 
Rupert,  and  His  Grace,  George  Duke  of 
Albemarle ;  as  it  was  heroically  fought,  and 
undoubtfully  disputed  on  the  i,  2d,  3d  and  4th 
of  June,  1666. 

To  the  tune  of,  A  Fig  for  France  and  Holland  too,  etc. 

String  up  your  hearts,  and  tune  your  throats, 
With  merry  and  triumphant  notes  ; 
Send  sorrow  from  your  souls  away, 
You  never  had  more  cause  for  joy  : 
The  creeple  may  cast  away  his  crutch, 
And  dance  the  downfal  of  the  Dutch. 
1  Ireat  Brittain  now  may  take  it's  ease, 
King  Charles  is  Soveraign  of  the  seas. 


64  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

The  first  and  second  day  of  June, 

Put  Holland's  trumpets  out  of  tune  ; 

Prince  Rupert  and  the  Duke  to  boot, 

Have  given  the  Dutch-men  all  the  rout : 

So  bloudily  they  cut  their  coats, 

And  bruis'd  and  bang'd  and  burn'd  their  boats, 

They  ne're  will  offer  to  displease, 

King  Charles  their  Soveraign  of  the  seas. 

If  number  would  have  won  the  day, 
We  were  less  numerous  than  they  ; 
When  sixteen  Zealand  ships  came  in, 
If  odds  would  doo't,  they  needs  must  win  : 
For  they  were  ninety-six  compleate, 
But  who  can  save,  whom  Heaven  will  beat. 
When  God  his  mercy  will  express, 
Unto  the  Soveraign  of  the  seas. 

The  Duke  with  loyalty  inrag'd, 
With  fifty,  ninety-six  ingag'd  ; 
But  thirty  of  the  Dutch  (to  meet 
Prince  Rupert)  then  did  quit  their  fleet, 
Thinking  to  seize  the  Prince  by  slight, 
Before  their  forces  could  unite  : 
But  no  such  shallow  plots  as  these, 
Can  cheat  the  Soveraign  of  the  seas. 

The  Prince  and  Duke  did  nobly  fayn, 
Their  loyal  forces  both  combine  ; 
And  on  the  foaming  billows  curl'd, 
They  bid  defiance  to  the  world  : 
The  Dutch  ingage  with  all  their  powers, 
And  scatter  on  us  shot  like  showers  ; 
But  'tis  not  such  poor  powers,  as  these, 
Can  quell  the  Soveraign  of  the  seas. 

Almost  as  swiftly  as  desir'd, 

Fourteen  of  theirs  were  took  and  fir'd  ; 

But  their  Vice-Admiral  did  meet, 

Our  Duke  i'  th'  front  of  all  his  fleet : 

They  were  so  near  they  might  have  clutcht, 

Almost  shook  hands,  their  yard-arms  touch'd  ; 

But  George's  broad-side  did  displease, 

The  foe  to  th'  Soveraign  of  the  seas. 


THE  FOUR  DAYS'   FIGHT  65 

The  fight  was  then  so  fierce  and  hot, 

His  hand  was  bruis'd,  his  breeches  shot ; 

Yet  though  they  came  so  hotly  on, 

As  soon  they  vanish'd  and  were  gon  ; 

Forty  or  fifty  men  of  ours, 

Were  kill'd  and  knock'd  down  by  their  powers, 

Yet  some  of  these  (though  with  much  pain) 

Appear'd  upon  the  decks  again. 

Prince  Rupert  like  the  god  of  war, 
Through  their  fleet  shot  like  a  star  ; 
Whose"  influence  like  lightning  shone, 
And  pierc'd  the  marrow  through  the  bone  : 
The  seas  with  bloud  were  much  imbru'd, 
The  Dutch-men  fled,  our  men  pursu'd, 
Till  none  were  seen  that  could  displease, 
King  Charles  the  Soveraign  of  the  seas. 

So  long  as  we  had  powder,  we 
Pursu'd  the  Dutchmen  through  the  sea ; 
And  their  du  Ruiter,  he  in  whom, 
They  builded  all  their  hopes  to  come  : 
Four  of  their  greatest  ships  were  sunck, 
They  cry,  '  The  devil's  in  the  Monck,' 
Never  such  men  appear'd  like  these, 
To  guard  the  Soveraign  of  the  seas. 

A  gallant  ship  of  theirs  was  fyr'd, 
With  seventy  six  guns  double  tyr'd ; 
Our  Henery,  a  ship  of  fame, 
From  three  fire-ships  escap'd  the  flame  : 
And  was  so  strong  beset,  that  then 
She  lost  at  least  one  hundred  men. 
We  must  indure  such  hurts  as  these, 
To  guard  the  Soveraign  of  the  seas. 

By  sea,  so  black  and  red  a  fight, 
No  time  or  age  e'er  brought  to  light ; 
The  fire  and  water  did  contend, 
Which  should  first  bring  them  to  their  end  : 
More  valiant  men  kill'd  in  three  dayes, 
Then  three  and  twenty  years  can  raise. 
We  can't  afford  such  brunts  as  these, 
To  guard  the  Soveraign  of  the  seas. 


66  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

On  Whitsunday  the  Duke  did  send 
His  men  for  cure,  and  ships  to  mend 
Unto  our  English  coast,  where  care 
Is  taken  for  their  swift  repair  : 
These  cards  thus  dealt,  out  of  the  lump, 
The  Royal  Katherine  turn'd  up  trump. 
A  sacrifice  which  doth  appease 
The  Royal  Soveraign  of  the  seas. 

To  summe  up  all,  'tis  thought  they  are 
Unfit  to  raise  another  war  ; 
'Tis  much  presum'd,  'cause  they  did  fail, 
When  they  had  made  out  all  their  say]  : 
These  are  some  of  those  warlike  tricks, 
Becket  presag'd  in  sixty  six. 
Yet  alwayes  such  events  as  these 
Secure  the  Soveraign  of  the  seas. 


ENG  LANDS  ROY  ALL   CONQUEST. 

Truely  manifested  in  a  happy  victory  obtained 
against  the  Dutch  Fleet,  by  his  Majesties  Royal 
Navy,  under  the  conduct  of  his  Highness  Prince 
Rupert,  and  his  Grace  the  Duke  of  Albemarle 
upon  the  25  and  26  of  July  1666.  In  which 
Naval  Fight  we  put  the  Dutch  to  a  total  rout, 
burnt  and  sunk  several  of  their  best  ships,  and 
in  conclusion  forct  them  shamefully  to  run  away. 
Our  own  losses  being  very  inconsiderable,  onely 
the  Resolution  burnt  and  two  Captains  kill'd  :  our 
General  and  all  the  rest  of  our  Fleet,  being  safe 
and  in  a  very  good  condition. 

The  tune  is,  A  Jig  for  France,  and  Holland  too,  or,  Round  about 

the  Hollow  Tree. 

Rejoycc,  rejoyce,  brave  English  boys, 
For  now  is  the  time  to  speak  our  joys  ; 
The  routed  Dutch  are  run  away, 
And  we  have  clearly  won  the  day  ; 


ENGLANDS  ROYALL    CONQUEST   67 

We  now  are  masters  of  the  seas, 

And  may  with  safety  live  at  ease. 
Then  Butter-boxes  all  lament, 
For  now  you  are  paid  to  your  own  content. 

You  thought  to  rule  as  Lords  and  Kings, 
But  now  we've  taught  you  better  things, 
Methinks  you  might  have  known  before, 
What  'twas,  to  come  so  near  our  shore. 
You  often  times  have  tri'd  our  force, 
And  still  you  alwaies  had  the  worse  ; 
Then  Butter-boxes  all  lament, 
For  now  you  are  paid  to  your  own  content. 

The  Dutch  are  grown  so  wise  and  sage, 

Without  great  ods  they'l  not  ingage  ; 

Brave  Englishmen  will  never  grutch, 

With  twenty  sail,  to  fight  forty  Dutch, 

And  bring  their  Lordships  by  the  lee, 

And  pay  them  home  for  the  treachery. 
Then  Butter-boxes  all  lament, 
For  now  you  are  paid  to  your  envn  content. 

Whilst  that  our  ships  were  fitting  forth, 

They  counted  us  men  of  little  worth  ; 

Upon  our  coast  they  made  great  shows, 

Not  thinking  to  be  paid  with  blows, 

But  when  our  fleet  did  once  appear, 

O  then  their  hearts  were  fill'd  with  fear. 
Then  Butter-boxes  all  lament, 
For  now  you  are  paid  to  your  own  content. 

July  the  five  and  twentieth  day, 

Began  this  sharp  and  bloody  fray. 

At  noon  the  fleets  were  both  ingag'd, 

And  men  on  each  side  were  inrag'd, 

The  bullets  they  did  flie  amain, 

And  some  were  wounded,  others  slain. 
Then  Butter-boxes  all  lament, 
For  now  you  are  paid  to  your  own  content. 

Prince  Rupert  and  brave  General  Monk, 
So  pelted  Ruyter  and  Yantrump, 
That  they  were  in  a  chafing  sweat. 
And  thought  it  safest  to  retreat, 

v  2 


68  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

By  little  and  little  they  shrunk  away, 
Their  want  of  courage  did  them  betray. 
Then  Butter-boxes  all  lament, 
For  noiv  you  are  paid  to  your  own  content. 

Five  hours  they  fought  couragiously, 
Before  the  Dutch  began  to  flie, 
But  then  their  fleet  was  severed  quite, 
Whilest  we  maintain'd  a  chasing  fight, 
For  two  dayes  space  we  did  pursue. 
And  pelted  them  till  their  sides  look'd  blew. 
Then  Butter-boxes  all  lament, 
For  ?iow  you  are  paid  to  your  own  content. 

Sir  Jeremy  Smith  did  roughly  greet, 
The  Admiral  of  the  Zealand  fleet, 
With  fire  and  ball  he  made  them  run, 
Untill  the  victory  he  had  won, 
Most  bravely  he  maintain'd  the  fight, 
Till  they  divided  were  by  night. 
Then  Butter-boxes  all  lament, 
For  now  you  are  paid  to  your  own  content. 

Brave  Allen  and  Holmes  fought  like  men, 
And  chas'd  the  Dutch  with  five  to  ten, 
So  sharply  did  they  ply  the  fight 
Till  all  the  Dutch  were  routed  quite, 
The  Flemmings  they  found  such  boisterous  play, 
That  they  in  plain  terms  ran  away. 
Then  Butter-boxes  all  lament, 
For  now  you  are  paid  to  your  own  content. 

Eight  ships  of  theirs  we  sunk  and  fired, 
Which  for  to  save  they  much  desired, 
And  kill'd  great  numbers  of  their  men, 
Where  we  lost  one  still  they  lost  ten, 
We  lost  a  stately  ship  and  tall 
The  Resolution  we  did  call. 

Then  Butter-boxes  all  lament, 

For  now  you  are  paid  to  your  own  content. 

Our  Generals  (blest  be  God)  are  well, 
And  all  our  fleet  as  we  hear  tell, 
Lies  daring  on  the  Holland  coast, 
The  Dutch  have  now  no  cause  to  boast, 


HOLLAND    TURND    TO    TINDER    69 

'Tis  said  de  Ruyter  and  Trump  are  slain, 

And  never  will  face  their  foes  again. 
Then  Butter-boxes  all  lament, 
For  now  you  are  paid  to  your  own  content. 

The  cannons  from  the  Tower  did  roar, 
When  this  good  news  did  come  to  shore, 
The  bells  did  ring  and  bone-fires  shine, 
And  healths  carrous'd  in  beer  and  wine. 
God  bless  King  Charles  and  all  our  fleet, 
And  grant  true  friends  may  safely  meet. 
Then  Butter-boxes  brag  no  more, 
For  fiow  we  have  beaten  you  or'e  and  ore. 


HOLLAND    TURND    TO   TLNDER ; 
OR,ENGLANDS  THIRD  GREAT  ROYAL   VICTORY. 

Being  an  exact  narrative  brought  by  Captain  Talbot 
Commander  of  the  Elizabeth  fourth  rate  Fnga 
of  the  Blew  Squadron,  who  on  Wednesday  night 
came  into  Harwitch  and  sent  an  express  to  the 
Kino-  at  Whitehall,  of  all  that  had  past  betwixt 
boththe  fleets,  before  and  in  the  fight :  which  news 
hath  been  continued  since  by  other  persons  from 
aboard  the  Royal  Charles,  who  give  account :  of 
a  total  rout   given   to   the  Dutch,   and  a  great 
victory  obtained  against  them,  insomuch  that  they 
are  bLen  and  btock'd  in  .their  own  harbours 
All    this  was    performed    in    Wednesday    and 
Thursday  25  and  26  of  July,  1666. 

The  weather  is  clear,  which  was  late  overcast 
And  our  long  expectations  are  answer  d  at  last 
With  news  from  the  navie,  which  I  shal  impart 
Enough  to  rejoyce  every  English-mans  heart, 
That's  honest  and  true. 
(And  is  not  a  Jew) 
But  would  give  to  God  and  to  Caesar  his  due. 


70  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

This  will  be  a  joyfull  and  royal  relation 
To  such  as  love  God,  the  King  and  the  nation  : 
Those  Dutch  demigorgons,  God's  power  convinces 
And  makes  them  all  servants  that  aim'd  to  be  princes. 

On  Wednesday  last  the  twenty  fift  day  of  July, 
Came  in  this  narration  which  He  tell  ye  truly, 
From  brave  Cap.  Talbot  a  man  of  stout  carriage 
That  then  brought  a  part  of  this  news  into  Harwich, 
Both  ruine  and  rage, 
(In  brave  equipage) 
Last  Wednesday  at  noone  both  fleets  did  ingage 
The  winds  were  our  freinds,  and  did  fill  out  our  sails 
With  very  fresh  northerly  brave  top-sail  gales ; 
We  din'd  with  the  Hogens  upon  their  own  coast, 
You  might  a  had  Dutch-men  there  boild  or  roast. 

At  first  both  the  navies  did  fight  in  a  line, 
Three  hours  with  much  fury  and  force,  but  in  fine, 
The  enemies  fleet  into  three  squadrons  flew, 
And  Sir  Jeremie  Smith  (Admiral  of  the  Blew) 

By  lot  was  to  face, 

Persue,  and  to  chase 
Out  the  Zelanders  squadron,  the  strongest  that  was. 
They  fought  it  out  furiously,  all  the  day  after, 
And  fiercely  encounter'd,  like  wild-fire  and  water, 
A  frigat  of  ours  called  the  Resolution, 
Was  burnt  by  the  Dutch  in  this  depth  of  confusion. 

The  White  and  Red  squadrons  did  ply  that  two  other 
So  fast  that  they  almost  were  choak'd  with  the  smother  ; 
They  tugg'd- very  hard  who  should  stand  it  out  longest, 
Our  Blew  was  the  weakest,  the  Zealand  the  strongest, 

And  yet  they  fight 

'Till  so  late  at  night, 
That  powder  and  darkness  depriv'd  them  of  sight. 
The  two  Holland  squadrons  both  turn'd  tail  and  fled 
Pursued  by  the  squadrons  of  our  White  and  Red, 
Upon  Thursday  morning  betwixt  nine  and  ten, 
The  Zealand's  were  cripled  and  hopp'd  home  agen. 

To  aid  the  Blew  squadron  a  thousand  stout  men 
Were  sent  (in  the  frigats)  by  Sir  William  Pen, 
And  Talbot  doth  tell  us  ere  he  did  retire, 
On  Wednesday  night  he  saw  six  Dutch  ships  on  fire  ; 


HOLLAND    TURN'D    TO    TINDER   71 

Two  hundred  almost 

Of  our  men  were  lost, 
Such  victories  seldonvare  gain'd  without  cost ; 
The  Zealanders  Admiral  some  think  is  gone 
Unto  his  last  home,  when  his  flag  was  shot  down, 
lis  highly  presum'd  by  the  best  knowing  men, 
They  nere  will  be  able  to  fight  us  agen. 

The  prestmen  wel  mingl'd  with  stout  voluntiers 
Did  drink  away  dolor  and  fight  away  fears  : 
Our  small  shot  did  stand  to't  with  valiant  desire, 
Their  guns  spit  and  sparkl'd  like  bay-leaves  in  fire  ; 

Our  cannons  did  roare 

They  sunk  and  they  tore, 
Thousands  that  heard  them  will  nere  hear  them  more. 
It  is  better  far  in  a  good  cause  to  dye, 
Then  with  a  bad  conscience  to  live  great  and  high  . 
And  in  acts  of  honour  there's  no  better  thing, 
Then  dye  a  true  martyr  for  God  and  the  King. 

Our  White  and  Red  squadrons  Du  Ruiter  engag'd 
Five  hours,  till  at  last  his  fierce  fury  aswaged, 
He  fought  as  if  he  had  been  Mars  his  own  son, 
From  ten  in  the  morning,  till  three  afternoon. 
Our  Red  and  our  White 
Did  dazel  his  sight, 
They  made  him  to  turn  and  to  run  away  quite, 
For  no  other  reason  as  some  men  suppose 
But  courage  did  fall  from  his  heart  to  his  hose  : 
Though  bad  men  seek  victory,  and  think  to  win  it, 
It  never  will  prosper,  if  God  be  not  in  it. 

Our  frigots  persued  him,  our  canons  did  roare, 
Until  they  were  come  within  two  miles  of  shore  : 
Our  great  ships  persu'd,  and  cont.nu'd  the  slaughter 
So  far  till  they  were  within  six  fathom  water : 
They  durst  not  look  back, 
To  see  what  we  lack, 
But  posting  for  life,  to  their  harbors  they  tack  ; 
Their  flags  being  struck,  and  not  set  up  again, 
Tis  "nought  that  Van  Trump  and  Du  Ruiter  is  slam. 
He  that  doth  protect  us,  will  save  us  from  evil, 
In  spight  of  the  Dutch,  the  Dane,  or  the  Devil. 


72  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

Besides  all  the  damage  our  shipping  hath  done 
To  vessels  and  men,  in  their  fight,  and  their  run, 
Two  very  stout  ships  we  have  taken  and  fir'd, 
And  in  them  five  hundred  and  ninety  men  tyr'd, 
With  tugging  for  that, 
They  cannot  get  at 
To  make  England  stoop  to  their  pittyful  state ; 
When  slaves  are  turn'd  princes,  no  tyrant  so  evil, 
When  beggers  are  mounted,  they  ride  to  the  Devil, 
No  souls  so  insulting  as  such  sordid  slaves, 
As  climb  to  preferment  on  honest  mens  graves. 

Our  gen'rals  and  navy,  are  all  safe  and  sound, 

The  Prince  and  the  Duke  have  our  foes  in  the  pound  ; 

They  in  their  own  harbors  are  pris'ners  at  ease, 

The  King  of  Great  Brittain  commands  where  he  please. 

We  ride  on  the  ocean, 

And  waile  for  the  motion, 
To  venter  again  they  have  no  great  devotion. 
Had  they  not  crept  in,  they'd  been  burnt  to  a  cinder 
And  Holland  by  this  time,  had  been  turn'd  to  tinder. 
God  bless  King  and  Queen,  with  the  Duke  and  all  such, 
As  are  friends  to  Great  Brittain,  and  foes  to  the  Dutch. 


A   NEW  BALLAD   OF  A   FAMOUS   GERMAN 
PRINCE  AND  A   RENOWNED  ENGLISH  DUKE. 

Who  on  St.  James's  Day  One  thousand  666  fought 
with  a  Beast  with  Seven  Heads,  call'd  Pro- 
vinces ;  not  by  land,  but  by  water;  not  I")  be 
said,  but  sung;  not  in  High  English  nor  Low 
Dutch  but  to  a  new  French  tune,  called 
Monsieur  Ragou ;  or,  The  Dancing  Hobby- 
horses. 

There  happen'd  of  late  a  terrible  fray, 
Begun  upon  our  St.  James's  Day, 

With  a  thumps  thump,  thump,  thumps  thump, 

Thump,  thump,  a  thump,  thump, 


57:  JAMES'S   DAY 

Where  Rupert  and  George  for  Charlemaign 
Swing'd  the  Dutch  again  and  again 
(As  if  they  had  been  but  the  French  or  Dane), 
With  a  thump,  etc. 

Twas  brave  Tom  Allen  led  the  van, 
Stout  Utber,  and  bold  Tiddiman, 

With  a  thump,  etc.  ; 
And  then  our  immortal  generalls 
With  twenty  thousand  thunder-balls 
Pierc'd  their  boggie  flesh-mud-walls, 

J I7th  a  thump,  thump,  etc. 

The  game  was  hot,  and  then  you'll  swear 
That  Jordan  (Heart  of  Oak)  was  there, 

With  a  thump,  thump,  etc.  ; 
And  gallant  Holmes,  that  never  fails, 
Torn  and  hurt,  yet  still  prevails, 
Valiant  with  or  without  his  sails, 

With  a  thump,  thump,  etc. 

The  Royal  Charles  was  all  their  aim, 
>r  there  they  knew  was  princely  game), 
With  a  thump,  etc. 

Seven  Provinces  here  spend  their  quire 

(De  Ruyter's  mighty  triple  tyre), 

But  had  his  answer  all  in  fire, 
With  a  thump,  thump,  etc. 

For  here  our  glorious  Prince  and  Duke 
Gave  him  such  a  sore  rebuke, 

With  a  thump,  etc. 
That  now  De  Ruyter  finds  it  clear 
The  warlike  English  have  no  peer, 
Who  dare  do  anything  but  fear 

A  thump,  thump,  etc. 

The  Soveraign  came  to  revenge  her  wrongs 
(Becalra'd  a  while  for  want  of  lungs), 

Without  any  thump,  etc., 
But  soon  as  her  dredful  sail  displaied, 
Good  Lord,  what  lanes  and  wrecks  she  made  ! 
The  devill  a  Dutch  came  nigh  or  staid, 

For  fear  of  a  thump,  thump,  etc. 


74  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

Her  balls  of  fire,  the  Flemming  sees, 
Are  thrice  as  big  as  a  Holland  cheese, 

With  a  thump,  etc. ; 
And  now  they  ran,  they  ran,  they  ran, 
And  left  poor  Zealand  shift  as  it  can  ; 
They  made  him  there  rere,  who  would  be  the  van- 

—  Van  Trump,  Trump,  Trump,  etc. 

The  King's  own  colours  (Red  and  White) 
Pursu'd  the  Boors  all  day  and  night, 

With  a  thump,  etc. 
O  how  'twould  Lords  and  Commons  please 
To  see  our  Soveraign  of  the  Seas 
Chasing  their  Seven  Provinces, 

With  a  thump,  etc. 

Over  flatts  and  banks  we  fir'd  their  tails 
Till  we  heard  their  croaking  nightingales, 

With  a  thump,  etc. 
This  difference  'twixt  two  navies  stands  : 
Ours  built  for  the  sea,  and  theirs  for  the  sands  ; 
We  had  sent  them  else  to  their  last  Netherlands 

With  a  thump,  thump,  etc. 

Their  shott  still  at  our  tackling  flew, 
Lest  when  they  ran  we  should  pursue, 

With  a  thump,  etc.  ; 
For  though  the  Dutch  are  sea-men  grown, 
Bold  English  are  the  marks-men  known, 
And  therefore  kill  them  six  for  one, 

With  a  thump,  thump,  etc. 

Our  rere  was  Smith,  with  other  two 
(Spragge  and  Kempthorn)  both  true  blew, 

With  a  thump,  etc. 
And  here  the  Zealanders  came  on, 
Who  stoutly  gave  us  gun  for  gun, 
Till  Holland-like  they  also  run, 

With  a  thump,  thump,  etc. 

'  In,  in,  in,  in,'  said  valiant  Spragge, 
'  Wee'l  beat  this  vapouring  Trump  to  th'  Hague  ' 
With  a  thump,  etc. 


57:  JAMES S  DAY  75 

His  chaplain  fell  to  his  wonted  work, 
Cryed,  '  Now  for  the  King  and  the  Duke  of  York  !  ' 
He  prayed  like  a  Christian  and  fought  like  a  Turk, 
With  a  thump,  thump,  etc. 


Six  thousand  Dutch  (a  Low-Country  dish) 
We  sent  to  their  own  cozen  the  fish, 

With  a  thump,  etc. 
The  rest  into  holes  so  tamely  crawl 
That  little  Fan/an  dar'd  them  all, 
Great  Rupert's  sloop  is  an  admirall. 

With  a  thump,  thump,  etc. 

What  Amsterdamnable  cowards  are  these 
To  boast  that  they  were  lords  of  the  seas, 

With  a  thump,  etc. 
Their  impudent  Gazette  proclaims 
How  bravely  they  lock'd  up  the  Thames ! 
But  had  no  leave  from  Charles  or  James, 
And  therefore  had  a  thump,  thump,  etc. 

And  now  De  Witt's  new  Holland  Rump 
(Who  rides  the  States)  will  burn  to  th'  stump, 

With  a  thump,  etc.  ; 
For  George  in  England  once  before 
Hath  fir'd  one  Rump,  and  will  do  more, 
Till  men  and  bells  all  Dutch-land  o're 
Sing  rump,  rump,  etc. 

Then  let  them  invent  some  other  cheat, 
Go  hang  their  captains  'cause  th'  are  beat 

With  a  thump,  etc. 
Let  Monsieur  and  Myn  Heer  that  snarls 
At  our  Soveraign  and  Royal  Charles, 
beware  of  Ruperts  and  Albemarles. 

With  a  thump,  thump,  etc. 

[Sir  John  Birkenhead.] 


SONGS  AND   BALLADS 


THE  SECOND  PART  OF  THE  LATE-  AND 
TERRIBLE  FIGHT  ON  ST.  /AMES'S  DA  Y,  ONE 
THOUSAND   666. 

To  the  Tune  of  the  First  Part. 

A  Second  Part  I  here  indite 

Of  the  English  and  Dutch  bloody  fight, 

With  a  thump,  thump,  thump,  thump,  thump, 

Thump,  thump  upon  thump. 
This  only  tells  what  was  done  since 
The  renowned  Duke  and  famous  Prince 
Made  the  Seven-headed  Beast  to  wince, 

With  a  thump,  etc. 

As  you  the  first  so  sing  this  too 

To  the  French  tune  call'd  Monsieur  Ragou 

With  a  thump,  etc. 
Or  else  because  that  this  discourses 
Of  Beaufort's  and  De  Ruyter's  forces, 
Call  the  tune  the  Dancing  Hobby  Horses, 

With  a  thump,  etc. 

Sing  not  High  English  in  Low  Dutch, 
Though  now  our  foes  are  truly  such, 

With  a  thump,  etc. 
This  must  be  sung,  not  said  at  all, 
And  they  that  -sing  must  rise  and  fall  : 
In  this  ballad  too  the  tune  is  all, 

With  a  thump,  etc. 

The  terrible  fight  on  St.  James's  Day 
Ended  with  Ruyter's  running  away, 

With  a  thump,  etc. 
The  first  part  did  th'  officers  prayse, 
The  Duke  of  York  and  King  now  saies 
The  sea-men  too  deserve  some  bays, 

With  a  thump,  etc. 

For  though  the  officers  bear  the  bell 
The  private  sea-men  rang  the  Dutch  knel. 
With  a  thump,  etc. 


57".  JAMES'S  DAY  77 

The  Bores  fought  well,  with  brandy  drunk  ; 
But  in  two  homes  their  courage  sunk, 
And  then  like  beaten  stock-fish  stunk, 
With  a  thump,  etc. 

Goliath-like  look'd  Houndsfoot  and  Skellum 

But  Monk  and's  fryers  with  sling  and  stones  fell  um, 

With  a  thump,  etc.  t 

Ruyter  swears  that  Trump  came  not  to  s  aid  ; 
Trump  swears  Ruyter  ran  like  coward,  afraid 
We  had  done  both  their  works  had  they  staid, 

With  a  thump,  etc. 

While  Trump  and  Ruyter  sneake  in  th'  Welling 
The  brave  English  land  at  Uly  and  Schellmg 

With  a  thump,  etc. 
A  thousand  homes  with  eight  score  ships 
We  fired  like  so  many  chips, 
And  made  the  States  to  bite  their  lips, 

With  a  thump,  etc. 

This  was  a  most  prodigious  rap, 
To  loose  five  millions  at  a  clap, 

With  a  thump,  etc. 
We  beg  but  one  boon  more,  kinde  tates, 
Their  India  fleet,  and  then,  proud  States, 
Wee'l  make  you  shit  as  small  as  rats, 

With  a  thump,  etc. 

Old  Rome  neere  did  ought  worth  a  doyt, 
Compar'd  with  Holmes's  brave  exploit, 

With  a  thump,  etc. 
The  tale  of  ten  years'  war  for  Hellen 
Homer  had  never  thought  worth  telling 
Had  he  but  heard  of  Uly  and  Schellmg, 

With  a  thump,  etc. 

Twelve  East -land  ships  did  likewise  fall  in- 
To  the  hands  of  stout  Sir  Thomas  Allen, 

With  a  thump,  etc. 
And  now,  in  spite  of  Adelar 
And  Beaufort  too,  we've  pitch  and  tarr 
And  ropes  enough  to  end  the  wan 

With  a  thump,  etc. 


78  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Our  victory  hath  but  one  flaw, 
The  unhappy  loss  of  the  Breda, 

Without  any  thumps  etc. 
On  the  Dutch  coast  she  ran  aground, 
And  without  men  was  strangely  found  : 
They  merit  hanging  if  not  drown'd, 

With  a  thump,  etc. 

This  vessel's  luck  was  never  good  ; 
In  her  five  captains  lost  their  blood, 

With  a  thump,  etc. 
At  her  mishap  we  must  not  grutch  ; 
'Twas  Heaven's  will  it  should  be  such, 
Because  that  the  ship's  name  was  Dutch. 

With  a  thump,  etc. 

Alas  !  alas  !  poor  baffl'd  Hans, 

The  Dane  can't  ayd  thee,  nor  dares  France. 

Thou,  thou  hast  had  thump  upon  thump, 

Thump,  thump  upon  thump. 
The  Monsieur's  fleet  a  mangy  crew  is. 
Monk's  brave  boys  eat  beef  and  brewis, 
Cry,  '  A  f for  Denmark  and  King  Lewis  !  ' 

With  a  thump,  etc. 

Bow  then  to  Charles,  distressed  States, 
After  so  many  broken  pates, 

With  a  thu??ip,  thump  still  upon  thump,  etc. 
Beg  peace,  or  next  your  banks  shall  rue, 
And  we  will  give  the  Divel  his  due  ; 
He  shall  take  Monsieur,  the  sea  drown  you  ; 

Then  are  ye  both  thumpt,  and  mumpt,  and  mumpt,  etc. 

Now,  to  conclude,  I  will  take  care, 
As  ballads  use  to  end  with  prayer, 

With  a  thump,  etc.  ; 
For  ballads  made  of  the  old  fashion 
Should  still  conclude  with  supplication 
For  King  and  Queen,  and  the  whole  nation, 

With  a  thump,  etc. 

God  bless  the  Swede,  he's  not  our  foe, 

And  Spain's  King  too,  though  France  say  no  ; 

They  both  wish  the  Dutch  well  thumpt,  thumpt,  etc. 


THE   HUTCH   DAMNIFIED  79 

Heaven  send  our  fleet  auspicious  gales, 
Our  King  and  Queen  a  Prince  of  Wales, 
And  then  let  who  will  bite  their  nayles 

we  all  our  foes  have  thumpt  and  tnumpt,  t  tc. 


THE   DUTCH  DAMNIFIED ;    OF,    THE 
BUTTER-BOXES  BOB'D: 

Being  a  brief  and  true  account  how  Sir  Robert 
Holmes,  Sir  Philip  Howard,  and  Sir  William 
Jennings,  with  eleven  companies  of  foot,  five 
fire-ships,  and  some  ketches  and  boats,  burnt 
and  destroyed  near  a  hundred  and  sixty  saile 
of  Dutch  ships  in  the  Uly  ;  as  also  they  burnt 
the  rich  town  of  Brandaris,  in  the  Island  of 
Schelling,  consisting  of  above  a  thousand 
houses,  richly  furnisht,  with  goods  of  extra- 
ordinary value  ;  our  seamen  and  souldiers  re- 
turning richly  laden  with  their  enemies'  spoyle, 
being  sufficiently  rewarded  for  their  noble 
enterprise,  and  all  this  performed  (by  God's  Pro- 
vidence) with  the  losse  of  ten  men  on  our  side. 

The  Tune  is  A  Fig  for  France  and  Holland  too,  etc. 

Ring  bells  for  joy,  let  none  be  sad, 

For  now  we  have  news  will  make  you  glad, 

Will  make  you  blith  and  merry  too 

To  see  how  the  Dutch  are  forc'd  to  bow  ; 

Their  brags  and  boasts  will  not  prevail, 

Well  teach  them  for  to  lowre  their  sail. 

Then,  Hogan  Mogans,  beware  your  pates, 

For  nmv  we  shall  make  you  distressed  States. 

We  paid  you  home  in  July  last, 
And  soundly  did  your  sides  bumbast ; 
If  that  you  had  not  swiftly  run 
You  surely  had  been  quite  undone  : 


80  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

But  now  we  are  landed  on  your  shore, 
And  found  the  way  to  make  you  poor. 
Then,  Hogan  Mogans,  V ware  your  pates, 
For  now  we  shall  make  you  distressed  States. 

For  all  your  idle  vain  excuses 

E're  long  we  shall  pull  up  your  sluces  ; 

Our  men  have  found  a  way  to  land, 

As  you  by  this  will  understand  : 

It  will  be  but  a  bitter  pill 

When  such  sad  news  your  hearts  do  fill. 

Then,  Hogan  Mogans,  b 'ware  your  pates, 

For  now  we  shall  make  you  distressed  States. 

You  in  your  harbours  lurk  for  fear, 
Not  thinking  such  bad  news  to  hear  ; 
We  scorn  to  come  and  steal  your  sheep, 
And  then  like  thieves  away  to  creep  : 
Your  towns  to  burn,  and  ships  to  fire, 
Is  work  that  Englishmen  desire. 
Then,  Hogan  Mogans,  b'ware  your  pates, 
For  now  we  shall  make  you  distressed  States. 

Sir  Robert  Holmes,  that  valiant  knight 

Had  orders  upon  Tuesday  night 

The  Uly  Island  for  to  burn 

And  quite  destroy't  ere  he  return : 

Sir  Philip  Howard  did  him  assist, 

Sir  William  Jennings  he  did  his  best. 

Then,  Hogan  Mogans,  curse  your  fates, 

For  now  we  shall  make  you  distressed  States. 

They  chose  eleven  hundred  men 
To  pull  the  Dutch  out  of  their  den  • 
With  fire-ships,  ketches,  boats,  and  hoyes, 
Well  mann'd  with  lusty  English  boyes  : 
With  joyful  hearts  they  leave  the  fleet, 
And  sayle  away  their  foes  to  meet. 
Then,  Hogan  Mogans,  curse  your  fates, 
For  now  we  shall  make  you  distressed  States. 

At  length  they  spy'd  without  all  faile 
One  hundred  and  seventy  saile 
Of  merchant  ships  which  anchored  were 
In  Uly  road,  being  void  of  fear. 


THE  DUTCH  DAMNIFIED  81 

Sir  Rcbert  Holmes  he  thought  it  meet 
With  fire-ships  to  destroy  that  fleet. 
Thai,  Hogan  Afogans,  'ware  your  pates, 
For  no  :iatt  ™<*ke  you  distressed  States. 

So  hotly  they  pursued  the  game 
That  straight  the  fleet  was  on  a  flame  : 
Some  frigats  which  the  rest  did  guard, 
lust  like  their  neighbours,  so  they  far'd  ; 
Our  men  most  furiously  were  bent, 
And  burnt  them  down  incontinent. 
Then,  Hogan  Afogans,  'ware  your  pates, 
For  now  we  shall  make  you  distressed  States. 

This  being  done  away  we  haste, 

The  Schelling  Island  for  to  waste, 

And  there  we  fright  our  cowardly  foes, 

And  land  our  men  where  none  oppose. 

Then  up  we  martch  into  the  isle, 

Our  crafty  foes  for  to  beguile. 

Then,  Hogan  and  Mogan,  'ware  your  pates. 

For  now  we  shall  make  you  distressed  States. 

When  they  heard  of  our  coming  nigh, 
Away  they  fled,  all  that  could  flye, 
And  left  their  goods  and  all  the  rest, 
To  be  dispos'd  as  we  thought  best. 
The  bravest  town  in  all  that  place 
We  burnt  quite  down  and  did  deface. 
Xow,  Hogan  Mogan,  beware  your  pates, 
For  now  we  shall  make  you  distressed  States. 

Our  men  had  plunder  there  good  store, 
To  make  them  rich,  they'l  ne'er  be  poor; 
They  brought  away  great  store  of  plate, 
And  now  they  quaff  their  cups  in  state  ; 
Their  cabbins  are  like  gold-smith  shops, 
God  send  us  many  such  like  crops. 
Xow,  Hogan  Mogan,  curse  your  fates, 
For  now  we  shall  make  you  distressed  States. 

Their  trugtail'd  frows  were  in  a  maze 

To  see  their  town  all  on  a  blaze ; 

They  wept  and  waild  and  wrung  their  jaws, 

And  cursed  their  States,  which  was  the  cause. 


82  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

May  all  that's  enemies  to  our  King 
Be  brought  to  such  like  banquetting. 
Now,  Hogan  Mogans,  curse  your  fates $ 
For  now  we  shall -make  you  distressed  States. 


A   SONG   ON  THE  DUKES  LATE   GLORIOUS 
SUCCESS   OVER    THE   BUTCH. 

One  day,  as  I  was  sitting  still 

Upon  the  side  of  Dunwich  Hill, 
And  looking  on  the  ocean, 

By  chance  I  saw  De  Ruyter's  fleet 

With  Royal  James's  squadron  meet ; 

In  sooth  it  was  a  noble  treat 
To  see  that  brave  commotion. 

I  cannot  stay  to  name  the  names 

Of  all  the  ships  that  fought  with  James, 
Their  number,  or  their  tonnage  ; 

But  this  I  say  :  the  noble  host 

Right  gallantly  did  take  its  post, 

And  covered  all  the  hollow  coast 
From  Walderswyck  to  Dunwich. 

The  French,  who  should  have  join'd  the  Duke, 

Full  far  astern  did  lag  and  look, 
Although  their  hulls  were  lighter  : 

But  nobly  faced  the  Duke  of  York, 

Tho'  some  may  wink  and  some  may  talk, 

Right  stoutly  did  his  vessel  stalk 
To  buffet  with  De  Ruyter. 

Well  might  you  hear  their  guns,  I  guess, 

From  Sizewell  Gap  to  Easton  Ness, 
The  show  was  rare  and  sightly  : 

They  batter'd  without  let  or  stay, 

Until  the  evening  of  that  day, — 

'Twas  then  the  Dutchmen  run  away, 
The  Duke  had  beat  them  tightly. 


CAPTAIN  HARMAN  S3 

Of  all  the  battles  gain'd  at  sea 

This  was  the  rarest  victory 
Since  Philip's  Grand  Armado. 

I  will  not  name  the  rebel  Blake; 

He  fought  for  whoreson  Cromwell's  sake, 

And  yet  was  forced  three  days  to  take 
To  quell  the  Dutch  bravado. 

So  now  we've  seen  them  take  to  flight 

This  way  and  that,  where'er  they  might, 
To  windward  or  to  leeward ; 

Here's  to  King  Charles,  and  here's  to  James, 

And  here's  to  all  the  captains'  names, 

And  here's  to  all  the  Suffolk  dames, 
And  here's  to  the  House  of  Stuart. 


NEWS  FROM  THE   COAST  OF  SPAIN; 

Or, 

A  true  relation  of  a  brisk  and  bloody  encounter, 
which  happened  upon  the  13th  of  February,  be- 
tween the  Tyger  frigot,  Captain  Harman  comman- 
der, andihe Scka/ier/eas  of  Holland,  Vice- Admiral 
of  Young  Evertson's  squadron,  Pasqual  De  Wit 
captain,  near  Cadize  in  Spain  ;  where  the  said 
De  Wit,  to  vindicate  his  honour  (being  sus- 
pected of  cowardice  by  the  Spaniards,  for 
quitting  his  station  upon  the  Tyger s  approach), 
challenged  Captain  Harman  to  fight  next  day, 
and  having  double  man'd  his  ship,  the  number 
being  270  men,  came  up  with  the  Tyger,  who 
had  but  a  180  men  on  board,  within  a  league  of 
Cadize  Bay,  within  the  view  of  all  the  inhabit- 
ants These  two  ships  being  come  within  half 
pistol  shot  one  of  another,  fired  their  broadsides, 
where   the    Tyger   did    such    execution  that  he 

G  2 


84  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

disabled  their  adversaries'  topmast-yard,  killed 
and  wounded  80  of  their  men,  without  any 
considerable  damage  to  himself ;  and  immedi- 
ately laying  him  aboard  on  the  bow,  after  half 
an  hour's  dispute,  entered  his  men  and  made 
him  yield  ;  carrying  his  prize,  miserable,  shat- 
tered, and  torn,  to  the  admiration  of  all  the 
people  :  the  Dutch  having  lost  140  men, 
besides  86  wounded  :  and  the  English  losing 
but  nine,  and  fifteen  wounded,  amongst  whom 
the  Captain  himself  was  shot  under  the  left  eye 
by  a  musquet  shot,  but  is  in  good  hopes  of  re- 
covery. 

To  the  Tune  of  Digbfs  Farewell. 

Come,  all  you  brave  sea-men  of  courage  so  free, 
Come  lend  your  attention  and  listen  to  me, 
For  here  is  good  news  that  is  late  come  to  town, 
Which  is  for  your  credit  and  England's  renown ; 
Of  brave  Captain  Harman  'tis  now  I  must  tell, 
Who  near  unto  Cadiz  behav'd  himself  well, 
And  taught  a  Dutch  captain,  whose  name  is  De  Wit, 
To  know  he  had  valour  and  made  him  submit. 

The  Tiger  from  Tangier  to  Cadiz  made  way, 
Whereas  the  De  Wit,  the  Dutch  admiral  lay, 
But  soon  as  the  Dutchman  our  frigate  espy'd 
They  straight  into  port  with  all  diligence  hi'd, 
Which  caused  the  Spaniards  about  for  to  say, 
He  quitted  his  station  and  durst  not  to  stay ; 
Whereat  the  proud  Dutchman  did  fume  and  did  fret, 
And  wisht  in  his  heart  that  they  never  had  met. 

Then  taking  advise  of  young  Evertson  straight, 

A  challenge  he  sent  with  the  Tiger  to  fight, 

To  regain  his  honour  if  so  it  might  be, 

The  which  was  accepted  immediately. 

His  ship  with  stout  seamen  he  then  double  mann'd, 

And  thought  that  our  English  was  merely  trapann'd ; 

But  in  the  conclusion  he  found  it  not  so, 

They  paid  him  his  reckoning  before  he  did  go. 


CAPTAIN  HARMAN  85 

Two  hundred  and  seventy  men  he  had  there, 
And  but  half  so  many  the  Tiger  did  bear 
Of  brave  English  hearts,  and  of  courage  most  free, 
That  scorn'd  to  be  dounted  in  any  degree  : 
Then  up  they  did  come  within  half  pistol  shot, 
Their  broad-sides  they  fired,  and  men  went  to  th'  pot, 
Whilst  all  the  whole  town  did  come  out  to  behold 
And  see  them  encounter  with  courage  most  bold. 

With  broad-sides  of  bullets  and  shot  that  was  bar'd 
We  quickly  disabled  De  Wit's  top-mast  yard, 
And  fourscore  men  they  had  wounded  and  slain, 
Which  made  them  to  fret,  but  it  was  but  in  vain. 
'  We'l  bear  in  upon  ....   \line  and  a  half  mis  sing\; 
WV1  show  them  such  valour  as  never  was  shown  ; 
I'le  take  their  ship  prize,  or  Tie  venture  my  own.' 


Then  quickly  they  grappled,  and  then  the  dispute 
Was  desperate  and  bloody,  whilst  cannons  were  mute, 
For  half  an  hour's  space  the  hot  service  was  such 
Our  men  remain'd  victors  and  conquered  the  Dutch  ; 
And  then  they  submitted  themselves  to  be  prize, 
Which  all  the  brisk  Spaniards  beheld  with  their  eyes, 
And  our  English  valour  did  highly  commend, 
Since  Harman  had  forc'd  the  proud  Dutch  for  to  bend. 


The  prize  was  so  shattered  and  torn  in  the  fray 
They  scarcely  could  get  her  safe  into  the  bay ; 
For  to  Harman's  honour  De  Wit  must  confess 
He  nere  was  so  thumped  before,  I  do  guess. 
'Twill  teach  him  hereafter  more  humble  to  be, 
To  yield  to  his  betters  in  every  degree  ; 
By  woeful  experience  he  now  can  relate, 
What  'tis  to  sell  honour  at  so  dear  a  rate. 


Of  Dutchmen  one  hundred  and  forty  was  slain, 
And  eighty-six  wounded,  which  languish  in  pain  ; 
Of  all  our  brave  English  we  lost  but  just  nine, 
And  therefore  we  have  no  great  cause  to  repine, 
Besides  fifteen  wounded,  the  truth  for  to  tell ; 
All  which  through  God's  mercy  we  hope  will  do  well. 
Such  blessings  the  Lord  has  for  England  in  store 
We  lost  not  much  more  then  a  man  to  a  score. 


8(5  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Brave  Harman,  who  fought  uhere  the  battel  was  hot 

Was  struck  through  the  cheek  with  a  chance  musket  shot 

-But  yet  there  is  hopes  he'l  recover  again 

And  live  for  to  win  more  renown  on  the  main  ; 

However  his  valour  is  highly  extol'd, 

'Mongst  our  English  worthies  he  shall  be  enrol'd, 

Who  fought  for  true  honour,  glad  tydings  to  bring, 

How  well  he  had  serv'd  both  his  countrey  and  King. 

Then  cheer  up,  brave  seamen  and  Englishmen  bold 
Vou  here,  by  this  story,  which  here  I  have  told 
No  sea-men  nor  souldiers  can  with  us  compare  ; 
Although  they  have  odds  yet  to  fight  them  we  dare. 
1  nroughout  the  whole  world  a  terrour  shall  prove 
If  we  can  continue  in  union  and  love  : 
And  thus  you  may  see  by  these  lines  I  have  writ, 
How  stout  Captain  Harman  did  conquer  De  Wit. 


CAPTAIN  MANSFIELD'S  FIGHT  WITH  THE 
TURKES  AT  SEA. 

°Ur  bow^'  Sh'P  WaS  l0adCd  d6eP'  WUh  anchors  three  beneath  her 

'Twas  east-north-east  we  steer'd  our  course,  and  as  near  the  wind 
as  we  could  stow. 

We  had  not  sailed  glasses  three,  nor  yet  ten  leagues  from  our 
loading  port,  & 

Before  we  spyed  ten  Turkish  men-of-war,  and  after  us  they  did 

'  °  ^uick?  Hail  *'  y°U  EngHsh  d°gS'  °  HaiI  !  and  Str,ke  y°ur  sails 
For  you  shall  go  with  us  this  night,  and  ever  after  into  slavery.' 
O  then  bespoke   our  captain    bold,  and  a   well   bespoken    man 

»*  ti o    1 1 C ■ 

'  If  you  must  have  my  topsails  down,  come  on  board  and  strike 
them  for  me. 


CAPTAIN  MANSFIELD  87 

To  the  .op,  tothe  top,  my  men,  boatswain,  to  the  mam-topmast- 

W^nS  that  main-top-mas.-yard,  and  see  you,  bus, 

To  £WSS^  m>'  boatswain's  mate,  to  the  fore-topmast 

tod*J«lS*-  .ore,op-sa,.-yard,  for  we  neve,  had  more 

need. 
■  To  the  top,  to  the  top,  my  littie  cabin-boy,  to  the  mizen-top-       ( 
W^aWd  t  George's  flag,  for  under  that  we  live  or 
O  d£ bespoke  our  gunner  bo.d,  and  a  well  bespoken  man  was 

•s«JbV  i«  «»»  bo>?' wh,ie  theyVe  hot' for  pwder  and 

ball  you  shall  have  free. 

•  Keep  aluff,  keep  aluff,'  says  the  master's  mate,  ■  keep  .luff,  whilst 

that  you  may.  ,     shall  be  said  we  run 

Wei    tight  it  out  like  English  bo>s  ;  it  neer  snaii  u 

awa>'-'  ,-,     i-        k^ih   ^  enemies  do  when  they  meet ; 

So  to  it  we  went  like  lions  bo  d,  as  enenue.  ^  ^  of 

We  fought  from  twelve  to  sun-rising,  ana  spa 

their  fleet. 

O  three  we  burnt,  and  three  we  sunk,  and  the  other  three  run 
And'oTwe  brought  to  old  England,  to  shew  them  we  had  won 
All  you  Sknow  our  gallant  ship,  and  wan,  to  know  our  captain's 
,   is  Spain  Mansfield  of  Bristol  Town,  and  the  Marys,!*,  a  sh,p 


of  fame. 


88  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 


THE  ALGIERS  SLAVES  RELEASEMENT ;  OR, 
THE    UNCHANGEABLE  BOATSWAIN 

No  pain  like  the  Jayl  of  Love,  nor  no  such  torments  found 

To  those  that   loyal   mean  to  prove,  whose  loves  are  firm  and 

sound. 
This  loyal  person  ne'r  would  change  ;  like  a  true  lover  he 
Indur'd  his  fetters  and  his  chains,  and  Betty's  captive  be. 

To  the  Tune  of  Awake,  oh  my  Cloris  ! 

Of  a  constant  young  seaman  a  story  I'le  tell, 
That  I  hope  all  true  lovers  will  please  very  well ; 
All  his  cry  was  still,  '  Though  I  continue  a  slave, 
Yet  the  want  of  my  dear  is  far  worse  than  a  grave. 

'All  the  tedious  long  night  in  close  prison  I  lye, 
But  methinks  I  behold  my  dear  love  lying  by  ; 
In  the  midst  of  my  pains  this  doth  still  give  me  ease : 
That  is  pleasant  to  me,  which  some  call  a  disease 

1  Sometimes  to  the  gallies  I'm  forced  to  go, 
Though  amongst  all  my  fellows  like  a  slave  I  do  row ; 
And  when  I  am  spent  with  this  labour  and  pain 
The  thoughts  of  my  love  doth  revive  me  again. 

'  And  when  with  strappadoes  sometimes  I  do  meet, 
I  find  little  pain,  if  I  think  on  my  sweet  ; 
Thus  'twixt  pleasure  and  pain  my  time  I  do  spend, 
Yet  vow  to  be  constant  unto  my  life's  end. 

'No  torture  nor  pain  shall  make  me  forsake 
Nor  flye  from  my  reason  for  my  Betty's  sake  ; 
I  do  slight  all  the  torments  bestow'd  by  the  Turk 
When  I  think  on  my  dear,  and  in  gallies  do  work. 

'  But  [tho'J  a  renegado  to  make  me  they  strive, 
I'le  never  consent  to  't  whilst  I  am  alive, 
But  will  a  couragious  true  Protestant  be  : 
I'le  be  true  to  my  faith  and  be  constant  to  thee. 


THE  BENJAMINS  LAMENTATION    89 

'Ah   Betty,  when  billows  do  rage  and  do  roar 
For  want  of  thy  sight  I  am  troubled  sore  : 
Whilst  other  are  troubled  with  terror  and  fear 
Yet  1 '  an!  cheer'd  up  with  the  thought  of  my  dear. 

.  No  orison  is  like  to  the  want  of  thy  sight 
WNnicE  locks  up  my  bliss,  for  thou  art  my  dehght . 
Though  distant  I  am,  therefore  only  opprest, 
Yet  sSu  my  dear  Bet'ty  doth  lodge  m  my  breast. 

•  In  the  midst  of  my  sorrows,  whilst  others  do .mourn, 
t"s  the  want  of  my  love  that  doth  make  me  forlorn  , 
Y       I]  would  not  enjoy  thee  in  this  cursed place 
Though  for  want  of  thy  love  my  tears  trickle  apace. 

'  But  be  of  good  cheer,  for  every  one  knows 
-£s  an  m  ™°  indeed  that  no  comfort  blows  , 
And  asain  I  do  hope  thee  in  England  to  see, 
Then  who'l  be  so  happy  as  Betty  and  me? 

<  And  now,  thorough  Providence,  I  am  return'd  : 
By  shipwrack  I  'sc!U  for  our  s^was^nd, 
No  torment  like  mine  was  when  I  wa a ^lave       % 
For  the  want  of  my  Betty  was  worse  than  a  grave. 

THE    BENJAMIN'S   LAMENTATION    FOJ^TH^R 
SAD      LOSS      AT      SEA      BY      STORMS 
TEMPESTS: 

Being  a  brief  narrative  of  one  of  his  Majesty .ships 
Sled  the   Benjamin,  that  was .drove  in «,  h- 
bour  at  Plymouth,  and  received  no  small  harm 
by  this  tempest. 

To  the  Tune  of  The  Poor  Benjamin. 

Captain  Chilver's  gone  to  sea, 

/,  boys,  0  boys  ! 
With  all  his  company,  I  ! 
Captain  Chilver's  gone  to  sea. 
With  all  his  company, 

In  the  brave  Benjamin,  O  > 


9o  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Thirty  guns  this  ship  did  bear, 

I,  boys,  O  boys  ! 
They  were  bound  for  Venice  fair,  I  ! 
Thirty  guns  this  ship  did  bear, 
And  a  hundred  men  so  clear, 
In  the  brave  Bem'amin,  O  ! 

But  by  ill  storms  at  sea, 
/,  boys,  O  boys  ! 
Which  bred  our  misery,  I  ! 
But  by  ill  storms  at  sea 
Were  drove  out  o'  th'  way 
In  the  brave  Benjamin,  O  ! 

We  had  more  wind  than  we  could  bear, 

/,  boys,  O  boys  ! 
Our  ship  it  would  not  steer,  I  ! 
We  had  more  wind  than  we  could  bear, 
Our  masts  and  sails  did  tear 
In  the  brave  Benjamin,  O  ! 

The  first  harm  that  we  had, 

/,  boys,  O  boys  I 
It  makes  my  heart  so  sad,  I  ! 
The  first  harm  that  we  had 
We  lost  our  fore-mast  head  : 
O  the  poor  Benjamin,  O  ! 

The  seas  aloud  did  roar, 

/,  boys,  O  boys  ! 
We  being  far  from  shore,  I  ! 
The  sea  no  favour  shows 
Unto  friends  nor  foes, 

O  the  poor  Benjamin,  O  ! 

The  next  harm  that  we  spy'd, 

/,  boys,  O  boys  ! 
Then  we  to  Heaven  cry'd,  I ! 
Down  fell  our  main-mast  head, 
Which  struck  our  senses  dead 
In  the  poor  Benjamin,  O  ! 

Then  we  with  seas  were  crost, 

7,  boys,  O  boys  ! 
And  on  the  ocean  tost,  I  ! 


THE  BENJAMIN'S  LAMENTATION    91 

Thus  we  with  seas  was  tost, 
Many  a  brave  man  was  lost 
/;/  the  brave  Benjamin,  0  ! 

The  next  harm  that  we  had, 

/,  toys,  0  boys  ! 
We  had  cause  to  be  sad,  I  ! 
The  next  harm  that  we  had 
We  lost  four  men  from  the  yard 
In  the  poor  Benjamin,  0  1 

Disabled  as  I  name, 

J,  boys,  0  boys  ! 
We  were  drove  on  the  main,  I  ! 
So  the  next  harm  we  had 
We  lost  our  rudder's  head 
///  the  poor  Benjamin,  0  / 

Then  we  fell  all  to  prayer, 

/,  boys,  0  boys ! 
The  Lord  our  lives  would  spare,  I  ! 
Then  we  fell  all  to  prayer, 
And  He  at  last  did  hear 
Us  in  the  Benjamin,  0  I 

Although  we  sail'd  in  fear, 

I,  boys,  O  boys  ! 
The  Lord  our  ship  did  steer,  I ! 
Our  prayers  so  fervent  were 
That  we  had  passage  clear 

Into  brave  Plimouth  Sound,  0  ! 

We  came  in  Plimouth  Sound, 

I,  boys,  0  boys  ! 
Our  hearts  did  then  resound,  I  ! 
When  we  came  to  Plymouth  Sound 
Our  grief  with  joy  was  crown'd 
In  the  poor  Benjamin,  O  ! 

When  we  came  all  on  shore, 

I,  boys,  0  boys  ! 
Every  man  at  his  dore,  I  ! 
When  we  came  all  on  shore 
Our  grief  we  did  deplore 
In  the  poor  Benjamin,  O  ! 


92  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

You  gallant  young  men  all, 

/,  boys,  0  boys  ! 
'Tis  unto  you  I  call,  I  ! 
Likewise  brave  seamen  all, 
Lament  the  loss  and  fall 
Of  the  poor  Be?ijamin,  O  .' 


THE  TREACHERY  OF  THE  SPANIARDS  OF 
PORTO  RICO  TO  THE  DARTMOUTH  FRIGOT 
AND  HER   COMPANY. 

(' Composed  by  Hovenden  Walker  on  board  the  Dartmouth.' — 
MS.  Note,  by  Pepys.) 


When  the  Dartmouth  friggot  lay  off  the  town 
That's  call'd  Porto  Rico,  of  some  renown, 
The  captain  sent  thither  to  know  if  he  cou'd 
Come  peaceably  in  for  water  and  wood. 
They  answered  we  were  welcome  there, 
And  might  venture  in  without  all  fear 
And  said  it  should  be  their  only  care 
Whatever  we  wanted  to  prepare. 

On  the  governor's  promised  honour  then 
We  took  up  the  pilot,  who  carry'd  us  in. 
We  rid  undisturbed  and  safe  all  the  night, 
Nor  smoak'd  any  cheat  till  the  morning's  light 

Discovered  their  base  and  d^amnedj  intent ; 

For  when  to  the  wat'ring  place  we  went 

We  were  seiz'd  and  into  prison  sent ; 

And  then  we  found  out  what  'twas  they  meant. 

Quoth  the  governor,  'Now  you  shall  ne're  be  free 
Till  I  your  commissions  and  orders  do  see  ; 
For  your  ship  is  become  a  forfeiture, 
And  I'le  sink  her  if  she  but  dares  to  stirr : 

For  here  my  guns  can  command  you  all. 

If  she  goes  not  where  I  say  shee  shall 

I'le  batter  her  sides  with  my  iron  ball 

From  every  fort  and  the  city  wall.' 


THE  DARTMOUTH  FRIGATE       93 

The  council  was  call'd,  and  *■>*£»  sate, 
!„  m,na.*e  the  business  by  grave  debate 
The  bald°pated  rascals  (as  if  they  were  fu 
Of  politick  tricks)  did  squmt  and .  ^k  dull, 

fcco^h^i^rttfS: 

2f,SSS,^2S»  ^ir  d,grace, 

r^  m  nllf  tn  the  arev-bearded  knaves, 

Till  the  Don  cry  a  out  to  uic  eic> 

They  never  shall  goe  to  sea  any  more. 

.  \nd  because  that  the  ship  is  under  command, 
Nor  can  they  the  force  of  our  walls  withstand, 
W°V  1  suffeTthese  silly  poltroons  to  go  free, 
For  their  friggot  thereby  gets  nc >  libe tie  . 

But  I'le  order  them  to  goe  where  1 

Will  maul  'em  with  more  conveniency, 

Or  where  upon  the  shoals  they  may  ly, 

Xnd  then  they  may  bid  their  ship  good-by. 

The  business  they  had  consulted  so  well, 
They  sent  us  away,  and  sent  one :  to  tell 
That  if  our  commander  refus  d  to  obey, 
Ind  didn't  immediately  order  to  weigh, 

'  In  vain  '  said  the  captain,  ■  you  threaten  us,  sirs, 
For  I  value  your  guns^  but  as  barking  of  currs 
Begin  when  you  please,  you  shal  1  find  - d    to 
As  brave  English  hearts  as  e  re  saw  the  sea. 

To-morrow  I  will  certainly  weigh 

And  brave  all  your  guns  in  open  day  , 

Mauere  whatever  you  do  or  say, 

Your  governors  orders  I'le  not  obey. 


94  SONGS  AND  BALLAjlI 

Next  day,  to  decoy  us,  he  cunningly  sent 
A  fawning  excuse  and  a  complement, 
And  said  he  would  try  to  dispatch  us  that  day 
And  send  us  in  peace  and  in  safety  away  ; 

But  he  had  no  design  in  the  thing 

But  writing  letters  unto  our  King, 

Which  a  messenger,  he  said,  should  bring 

Before  the  sun  was  near  setting. 

Our  top-sails  were  loose,  and  the  sheats  were  haul'd  home, 

We  waited  all  day,  but  no  messenger  come. 

We  saw  on  the  shoar  the  friars  so  gay, 

And  some  were  in  black,  but  most  were  in  grey ; 

To  ev'ry  fort  and  castle  they  went ; 

But  the  Lord  in  heav'n  knowes  what  they  meant, 

Unless  (that  it  might  be  their  intent) 

To  bless  e'ry  man,  gun,  and  battlement. 

No  sooner  the  fryars  were  gone  to  their  home 
But  we  heard  an  alarm  beat  by  the  drum, 
And  then  a  command  was  sent  us  agen 
To  furl  our  top-sails  and  warp  further  in  ; 

And  if  we  didn't  immediately 

With  what  the  governour  said  comply, 

From  all  his  forts  he'd  let  the  guns  fly, 

And  batter  us  most  confoundedly. 

Then  straight  from  the  city  we  plainly  could  see, 
The  souldiers  were  marching  most  hastily, 
And  headed  they  were  by  their  fat  general, 
To  every  fort  and  each  castle  wall  : 

But  we  were  quite  careless  all  the  while, 

And  at  their  grand  folly  did  only  smile, 

Resolving  the  Spaniards  to  beguile 

And  leave  'em  without  their  wish't-for  spoil. 

By'this  time  the  busie  old  sun  was  gone  down, 
And  candles  were  lighting  about  the  town  ; 
The  commander  then  cheared  his  men  so  brave, 
And  the  word  for  cutting  the  cable  gave, 

Which  was  done  ith'  twinkling  of  an  eye, 

And  the  sails  were  set  as  suddenly, 

Which  as  soon  as  eVe  they  could  espy 

A  volley  of  small  shott  did  let  fly. 


THE    GOLDEN    VOYAGE 

•   Thus  under  sail  alongst  »em  we  p.* 
&nd  till  convenient  we  kept  all  fast, 

But  halloo'd  out,  nor  were  agast. 

And  sent  a  broadside  amongst  em  at  last. 

Thus  fireing,  and  fireing,  we  held  a  good  space, 
K™  &  the  go  by  to  the,  disgrace  ; 
Three  hours  or  more  continu'd  the  fight 
WiJh  fire  and  smoke.,  and  a  v-y  ca  m  rught, 

And  tho'  within  pistol  shott  we  *ere, 
•  nevertheless  we  got  well  clear, 

Without  much  hurt  or  any  fear, 

And  to  tell  you  the  tale  are  now  come  here. 


95 


Jid  i.il,tr,  „«  j»,Ml,  r«e,v«d  ..  lb.  .«» 
of  London. 

To  the  Tune  of  Ladies  of  London. 

Listen  awhile,  and  I  here  wiil  unfold  what  seeme.h  to  promise 

ThereTsTeaTplen^  of  silver  and  gold  now  newly  took  ou,  of  the 

FortyThree  years  this  treasure  has  lain  sinoe  the  gallon  was  staVd 

AmongU*fscholes  and  the  rocks  in  the  main,  yet  this  may  be  now 

the  world's  wonder. 


96  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

It  being  seventeen  leagues  from  the  shore,  'tis  wonderful  if  you  do 

mind  it, 
Many   has  search'd  for  this  treasure  before,  but  none  had  the 

fortune  to  find  it 
Till  the  bra.ve  James  and  Mary  of  fame,  whom  Fort  ne  hath  highly 

befriended, 
She  most  successfully  sail'd  on  the  main,  and  was  from  all  dangers 

defended. 


She  was  inform'd  where  this  treasure  did  lye  by  some  that  had 

gi'en  information ; 
Therefore  some   nobles   did   freely  comply,  without  any   more 

disputation, 
To  fit  her  forth ;  this  favour  they  show,  it  being  their  free  will  and 

pleasure. 
With  a  fair  gale  to  the  ocean  they  go,  where  they  find  great  plenty 

of  treasure. 

Twas  in  the  midst  of  September  they  went  forth  in  the  brave 
James  and  Alary, 

All  the  ship's  crew  with  a  loyal  consent,  they  being  both  cheer- 
ful and  airy  ; 

And  in  short  time  they  there  did  arrive  where  they  was  with  rocks 
so  surrounded 

That  they  did  hardly  know  how  to  contrive  to  keep  themselves 
from  being  drown[dJed. 

There  they  was  forced  some  time  for  to  lose,  and  lye  at  an  anchor 

together ; 
As  for  their  engine,  they   then   could   not  use,  because  of  the 

turbulent  weather  ; 
Yet  at  the  last  to  diving  they  went,  where  silver  and  gold  they 

received ; 
When  in  the  water  their  breath  was  near  spent  they  were  by  their 

engine  relieved. 

Six  weeks  together  they  work'd  in  the  cold,  still  diving  in  nine 

fathom  water, 
Loading  their  Mary  with  silver  and  gold  ;  then  up  to  fair  London 

they  brought  her, 
Where  they  received  her  with  delight,  as  you  may  observe  by  the 

ditty, 
And  they  unloaded  her  cargo  in  sight  of  many  brave  men  of  the 

city. 


THE  BOATSWAIN'S   CALL  97 

Carts  heavy  loaden  came  through  the  town,  on  which  the  whole 

multitude  gazed  ; 
This  to  the  seamen  hath  purchac'd  renown,  no  question  but  they 

may  be  praised  : 
Still  far  and  near  their  fame  let  it  ring,  and  let  them  be  highly 

commended, 
Since  they  did  venture  so   hard  in  this  thing,  and  was  with   a 

blessing  attended. 

But  here  is  one  thing  we  must  not  forget :  while  they  were  the 

treasure  possessing, 
On  the  great  rocks  they  might  soon  have   been  split    had  not 

Heaven  yielded  a  blessing  ; 
Or  while  they  search'd  the  depth  of  the  main,  to  hazards  they 

could  be  no  strangers  ; 
Yet  men  and  boys  came  all  safe  home  again,  tho'  they  had  gone 

through  such  dangers. 


THE  BOATSWAINS  CALL ;  OR,  THE  COURAGIOUS 
MARRINER'S  INVITATION  TO  ALL  HIS  BROTHER 
SAILERS   TO  FORSAKE  FRIENDS  AND  RELA- 
TIONS  FOR   TO  FIGHT  IN  THE  DEFENCE  OF 
THEIR  KING  AND   COUNTRY. 

To  the  Tune  of  The  Ring  of  Gold. 

Stout  seamen,  come  away,  never  be  daunted  ; 
For  if  at  home  you  stay,  then  is  it  granted 
The  fleet  can  never  be  mann'd  for  the  ocean, 
To  fight  the  enemy  and  gain  promotion. 

Lewis,  that  Christian  Turk,  makes  preparation  ; 
His  engines  are  at  work  in  consultation  , 
Thinking  to  ruin  quite  all  Christian  princes  ; 
But  we  their  wrongs  will  right,  at  life's  expences. 

The  mighty  force  of  France  we  never  value; 
For  when  we  once  advance  we  will  not  dally, 
But  on  the  ocean  wide  (through  blest  permission) 
We'll  soon  subdue  their  pride  and  grand  ambition. 

H 


98  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

Therefore  with  courage  bold,  boys,  let  us  venture ; 
Like  noble  hearts  of  gold  now  freely  en  x 
Your  names  on  board  the  fleet,  all  frien  s  forsaking, 
That  we  may  soon  compleat  this  undert  king. 

Is  it  not  that  the  land  might  be  defended 
By  a  victorious  hand  ?  tho'  France  intended 
To  lay  a  heavy  yoke  on  a  free  nation, 
Boys,  let  a  fatal  stroke  prove  their  vexation  ! 

But  yet  methinks  I  hear  some  cowards  crying, 
The  press  they  dread  and  fear  as  much  as  dying, 
And  sculk,  like  frighted  slaves,  here  in  distraction, 
To  hide  in  dens  and  caves  from  warlike  action. 

Yet  some  declare  they'd  fight,  but  a  dear  mother, 
Who  counts  him  her  delight  above  all  other, 
She  loves  him  as  her  life  ;  parting  would  grieve  her  : 
Another  has  a  wife,  he's  loath  to  leave  her. 

Thus  cowards  they  can  find  excuses  many 
To  tarry  here  behind ;  yet  there's  not  any 
Right  valiant  noble  soul  heeds  a  relation, 
He'll  fight  against  controul  for  this  his  nation. 

Has  not  men  wish'd  and  cry'd,  '  A  war  with  France  ! '  boys, 
That  on  the  ocean  wide  we  may  advance,  boys? 
To  storm  and  shake  their  throne,  no  danger  fearing  : 
This  still  has  been  their  tone  oft  in  my  hearing. 

Where  are  those  heroes  now,  those  sons  of  thunder, 
That  would  make  Lewis  bow  and  bring  him  under? 
Your  wishes  now  you  have,  France  is  the  center  ; 
Like  seamen  stout  and  brave,  boys,  freely  venture  ! 

In  a  fight  fierce  and  hot  once  was  I  wounded  ; 
We  receiv'd  showrs  of  shot,  being  surrounded ; 
Yet  I  again  will  go,  and  scorn  to  hide  me ; 
I'll  face  the  daring  foe,  what  e'er  betide  me. 

He  that  has  been  in  fight  fears  not  another  ; 
He  leaves  with  much  delight  father  and  mother, 
To  embrace  those  true  joys  which  men  admire ; 
We  can  be  merry,  boys,  in  smoak  and  fire. 


THE   UNDAUNTED  SEAMAN      99 

ff  If  hhc  c°n1uest  Sa''n.  lhat  brings  promotion  • 
Sha^hJ  Chanceare  slai".  then  the  w,d°  ocean    ' 

Th,    tyTsZVZraT  NePl™e'S  ^ 
.    wysi  snail  be  our  doom,  in  spite  of  malice. 

THE    UNDAUNTED  SEAMAN, 

Who  resolved  to  fiaht  for  hw   K";««       j 

together  with  hfs    ove s     orro  vTuM,    ^^  '" 
at  their  departure.  sorrow^l    lamentation 

To  the  Tune  of  I0mfi,  my /enny  strQ^ 

1  My  love,  I  come  to  take  my  leave  vet  nr,>„      j 

grieve.  y  Ieave'  yet  Prithee  do  not  sigh  and 

On   the^wide  ocean   I  WI,1   fight,  for  t0  ^^  ^  ^^ 
"oT  W6  /.jfrr^e;y  "2"  «°  **  »/  chance; 
'My  dear,  said  she,  -he  notunWnd,  ,  shal,  no  peace  nor  comfort 
cannons  roar,  '      nere  the  loud-mouth'd 

fc  STSftaS  £*&  ^  *  >f  -  -  as  here  ; 
heart  and  hand  S  tand'  and  vow  <°  fight  with 

The  youtbfu,  damse,  then  d,d  cry,  ■  „  part  Wlth  g0,d  and  ^ 
bother  person   to  empioy,    that  may   be   better  spared   than 


■I  a 


IOO  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

more.' 
My  dear,  aa  ha^-U  I  run,  thinks  the  wo*  cannot  be 

Excedp?Tdo  in  P-n  go  to  ^  ff^-  ~ 

France. 

ft.   a  at    with  the  Dutch  navy,  will 
•  My  dear,  the  royal  Enghsh  fleet,  wuh  the 

The  rfXeh  fairly  is  begun  :  we  fear  not  but  Monsieur  wd 
For  Sdrive  the  rogues  before  us,  teaeh  them  sueh  an  Enghsh 

dance:         ,•       <tih   we'll  fire,  check   the  growing  pride  oj 
While  they  retire,  stile   we  u  w  , 
France" 

,  •     j      «»i  *aid  « If  you  resolve  to  go  to 
With  sighs  and  tears  tins  damsel  sard,        y 

In  A  robes  m  be  array'd  and  ^f ^  ofshoT: * 

Said  he,  ^y  dearest,  stay  on  land,  sueh  idle  fancies  ne,r 
ThyLTand  tender  milU-white  hand  [a]  seaman,  labour  cannot 

i ' 


more ! ' 


The  IS,  of  thy  sweet  -^S&rSS&ZZ 
Therefore,  dearest,   do  not  leave  m 


w^n?  /  ' 


THE   SEAMAN'S  ADIEU  101 

Tho'  bitterly  she  did  complain,  her  sighs  and  tears  were  all  in 

vain  ; 
He  would   not   suffer  her  to  go,  so  many  cares  and   griefs  to 

know  : 
But  with  sweet  salutes  they  parted  ;  she  was  left  with  tears  on 

shore  ; 
Here  often  crying,  and  replying,  '  /  shall  never  see  him  more  ! 


THE   SEA- MAN'S  ADIEU  TO  HIS  DEAR. 


This  man  was  prest  to  serve  upon  the  seas, 
Which  did  his  dearest  very  much  displease  ; 
She  importuned  the  captain  on  her  knee, 
And  proffered  gold  to  have  her  love  set  free  ; 
But  all  would  not  prevail ;  the  captain's  ear 
Was  deaf,  the  maid's  complaint  he  would  not  hear. 
When  no  entreaty  could  move  his  hard  heart 
She  sadly  took  her  leave,  and  so  they  part. 

To  the  Tune  of  I'le  go  to  Sir  Richard. 

Come,  all  loyal  lovers  that's  faithful  and  true, 

Observe,  where  ever  you  be, 
A  pattern  I  here  have  presented  to  you  : 

It  is  good  to  be  constant,  you  see. 

But  chiefly  to  thee,  my  own  dearest,  I  speak, 

With  patience  my  absence  to  bear, 
For  now  I  am  prest  to  serve  on  the  seas, 

And  I  must  bid  adieu  to  my  dear. 

Our  King  must  have  seamen  and  souldiers  most  stout, 

His  enemies'  heart  for  to  fear, 
And  I  for  my  honour  will  venture  about, 

And  I  must  bid  adieu  to  my  dear. 

Maid. 

O  tell  me  not  so,  mine  own  dearest,  I  pray  ; 

For  love's  sake  take  pitty  on  me  ; 
I'le  do  my  endeavour  to  please  thee  alway 

If  that  I  may  have  my  love  free. 


io2  SJWGS  AND   BALLADS 

'Tis  far  better  staying  with  me  on  the  shore, 
Where  pleasures  and  joys  do  abound, 

Than  for  [you]  to  venture  where  cannons  do  roar, 
In  the  depth  of  the  seas  to  be  drown'd. 


O  be  not  so  cruel,  my  love,  for  to  fight, 
But  tarry,  my  dearest,  with  me ; 

We'l  find  out  a  way  in  Love's  war  for  to  fight, 
And  Fie  strive  for  to  set  my  love  free. 


Man. 

All  that  thou  canst  do,  my  love,  will  not  procure 

My  freedom,  I  sorely  do  fear ; 
But  I  must  the  hardship  of  service  endure, 

And  I  must  bid  adieu  to  my  dear. 


My  captain  by  no  means  will  let  me  go  free, 
He  likes  me  so  well,  I  do  hear ; 

Therefore  it's  in  vain  to  beg  my  liberty, 
For  I  must  bid  adieu  to  my  dear. 


Maid. 

Tie  go  to  thy  captain  and  fall  on  my  knee ; 

Perhaps  he'l  take  pitty  on  me  ; 
If  five  pounds  or  ten  pounds  will  buy  thy  discharge 

He  shall  have  it  to  set  my  love  free. 


The  Captain's  Answer. 

Not  ten  pounds  nor  twenty  will  buy  his  discharge, 
Fair  maid,  you  must  patiently  bear  ; 

He  shall  go  to  sea  for  his  King  to  ingage, 
And  he  must  bid  adieu  to  his  dear. 


I'le  have  him  to  serve  me  upon  the  salt  main, 

In  battel  with  foes  for  to  fight ; 
Then  cease,  pritty  maiden,  and  do  not  complain, 

For  the  wars  is  a  souldier's  delight. 


THE  SEAMAN'S  ADIEU  103 

Maid. 

Behold,  noble  captain,  the  sorrowful  tears, 

That  down  my  cheeks  trickle  amain, 
To  move  your  hard  heart  to  release  me  of  tear 

And  to  grant  me  my  love  once  again. 

No  maiden's  heart  ever  was  so  full  of  woe, 

Then,  good  sir,  take  pitty  on  me ; 
And  let  him  no  further  into  the  wars  go, 

But  be  pleased  to  set  my  love  free. 

Captain. 

O  cease  thy  suit,  damsel,  and  be  not  so  sad, 

Let  reason  thy  mind  now  aswage ; 
Ten  thousand  such  seamen  must  e're  long  be  had, 

All  against  the  proud  foes  to  engage. 

Man. 

My  dearest,  why  dost  thou  the  captain  offend  ? 

Thou  seest  he  by  no  means  will  yield  ; 
And  I  am  resolved  my  blood  for  to  spend 

Upon  the  salt  sea  or  in  field. 

Therefore  be  contented,  and  cease  thy  sad  moan, 

Take  comfort,  and  do  thou  not  fear  ; 
If  fortune  befriend  me,  when  as  I  am  gone, 

I  shall  once  again  see  mine  own  dear. 

Maid. 

My  dearest,  since  thou  must  be  parted  from  me, 

And  here  must  no  longer  remain 
The  thought  of  thy  love  all  my  comfort  shall  be 

Until  I  do  see  thee  again. 

Each  hour  for  thy  welfare  to  God  will  I  pray, 

That  He  will  in  safety  preserve 
My  own  dearest  lover  by  night  and  by  day 

Whilst  he  on  the  ocean  doth  serve. 

This  token,  I  prethee,  love,  for  my  sake  keep, 

Remember  me  when  you  it  wear ; 
This  parting  kiss  take,  which  doth  cause  me  to  weep, 

And  so  heavens  bless  mine  own  dear. 


io4  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 


Man. 

Adieu,  my  dear  jewel :  thy  love  I  have  found  ; 

Our  parting  doth  grieve  me  full  sore. 
The  drums  they  do  beat,  and  the  trumpets  do  sound, 

And  I  must  stay  no  longer  on  shore. 


THE  MAIDENS'  FRO  LICK /  OR,  A  BRIEF  RELA- 
TION HOW  SIX  LUSTY  LASSES  HAS  PREST 
FULL  FOURTEEN  TAYLORS  ON  THE  BACK- 
SIDE  OF  ST  CLEMENTS,  AND  THE  OTHER 
ADJACENT  PLACES. 

To  the  Tune  01  An  Orange. 

Of  late  near  the  Strand,  we  well  understand, 
Six  lasses  that  took  a  brisk  frollick  in  hand  ; 
'Twas  thus,  I  profess,  they  in  seaman's  dress, 
Not  far  from  the  May-pole,  resolved  to  press 
Fourteen  taylors. 

Young  Nancy  she  ty'd  a  sword  by  her  side, 
And  she  was  resolved  for  to  be  their  guide  : 
This  young  female  crew,  Kate,  Bridget,  and  Prue, 
And  she  that  went  formost  was  Lieutenant  Sue, 
Pressing  taylors. 

These  maids  by  consent,  their  minds  fully  bent, 
First  thro'  the  back  side  of  St.  Clements  they  went, 
Where  just  in  the  street  they  a  taylor  did  meet  ; 
They  prest  him,  and  streight  he  fell  down  at  their  feet  : 
'  I'm  a  taylor. 

'  I  tell  you,'  said  he,  '  I  ne'er  was  at  sea, 
And  therefore,  kind  gentlemen,  pray  set  me  free, 
And  pity  these  tears  ;  i  have  liv'd  forty  years, 
And  never  us'd  weapon  but  bodkin  and  shears. 
1  I'm  a  taylor.' 


THE  MAIDENS'   FRO  LICK         105 

Then  to  White  Hart  Yard  they  went  with  regard, 
2?£-  a  poor  tayior  was  ,a  our,ng  £d 

^gtSn;°uSbKtndgWUhanmdhis  service  afford, 

The  tayior  did  quake-nay,  quiver  and  shake. 
IrlengVw,*  a  ^^^l^undon. 
rnh:tted^kn::?nengh;ehnedCo?a'gun; 
/»«  a  tayior' 

Then  stout  Boston  Bess  said,  ■  Nevertheless 
You  must  go  with  us,  we've  a  warrant  to  press 
Then  wave'this  excuse,  and  lay  by  y™*^ 
Such  nimble  young  fellows  may  be  of  great  use, 
Thd  only  a  tayior' 

Their  hearts  void  of  care,  w^o  whenthey  ro         [h  s]Jma[re], 
These  maids  did  catch  napping,  as  Moss  caicnuL     j 

i*w«  taylors. 

7%<r5<?  0wr  taylors. 
With  all  might  and  main  down  to  Dutchy  Lane 

*  couple  belong'd  to  the  cross-legged  crew, 
,4  m/  WfAA  /fljv^«- 


106  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

Then  Morgan  hur  railes,  crys,  '  Splutter-a-nails, 
Hur  newly  come  up  to  fair  London  from  Wales  ; 
Then  pray  cease  your  strife,  hur  has  a  young  wife, 
Besides  hur  was  never  yet  kill'd  in  hur  life.' 
A  Welsh  taylor. 

But  yet,  right  or  wrong,  they  brought  'em  along, 
And  happen'd  to  meet  with  three  more  in  the  thro[ngl. 
Then  said  lusty  Jane,  '  You  must  serve  King  and  Que[en] ! ' 
And  thus  these  stout  females  did  press  full  fourte[en], 
And  all  taylors. 


THE  COURAGIOUS  COMMANDER ;  OR,  A  BRIEF 
RELATION  OF  THAT  MOST  NOBLE  ADVEN- 
TURE OF  SIR  CLOUDESLY  SHOVE LL,  IN  THE 
BA  Y OF  DUBLIN,  ON  GOOD  FR  YDA  Y,  IN  BRING- 
ING THE  PELLICAN  FRIG  AT  OUT  OF  THEIR 
HARBOUR  IN  TRIUMPH  AND    VICTORY. 

To  the  Tune  of  Let  Ccssar  live  long. 

Now,  noble  brave  boys,  let  the  sweet  trumpet  sound, 

While  seamen  with  trophies  of  honour  are  crown'd  ; 

For  gracious  King  William  they'll  fight  till  they  dye, 

And  scorn  from  the  face  of  a  Tory  to  flye. 

Sir  brave  Cloudesly  Shovell  sail'd  to  Dublin  Bay, 
And  brought  the  brave  Pellican  frigat  away. 

Old  James  and  his  Teagues  they  did  stand  and  behold 
Our  noble  commander,  couragious  and  bold, 
Who  ventur'd  just  close  to  the  banks  of  their  shore 
And  laid  the  proud  enemy  sprawling  in  gore  : 
With  fire  and  sword,  boys,  we  enter'd  the  bay, 
And  brought  the  brave  Pellican  frigat  away. 

Our  noble  commander  first  enter'd  aboard, 
On  the  Mo?imouth  yacht ;  this  did  courage  afford 
To  all  the  brave  sailors  of  Protestant  pride, 
Who  vow'd  they  wou'd  venture  to  dye  by  his  side  ; 
Then  crossing  the  bar  they  enter'd  the  bay, 
And  brought  the  brave  Pellican  frigat  away. 


-mUS  COMMANDER  i°7 
THE  COURAOIOUS 

a\a  fire  amain, 

But  we  brought  trie 

,.      tq^  prance  , 

Tb,  Protestants'  goods  *^fXU  *«£  and  frown, 

1  *k««  were  stopt— a)'  a  t0  sWear,  trev,  a 

When  we  brought 

,h  their  foot  and  their  horse, 
The  Tories  came :  dc £ £*  *ented  his  toss  ; 

Andbr0US  d    .oneprondMonsienrdtdcr,, 

.  von  damn'd  **«*££  .^i&t  tet  dye  i 
But  straight  at  his  horse  jack-boots  ; 

«e  ""  ,nltrS  «s  forc'd  to  shake :  off  b»> 

Vnd  brought  the  or 


io8  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

THE  SEAMEN'S  VICTORY;  OR,  ADMIRAL  KILLE- 
GREWS  GLORIOUS  CONQUEST  OVER  THE 
FRENCH  FLEET,  IN  THE  STREIGHTS,  AS 
THEY  WERE  COMING  FROM  THOULON 
TOWARDS  BREST; 

With  the  manner  of  taking  three  of  their  French 
men-of-war,  and  sinking  two  more  ;  although 
the  French  Admiral  vainly  boasted  he  would 
recover  Brest  or  Paradice,  yet  he  shamefully 
run  from  the  English  fleet. 

To  the  Tune  of  The  Spinning  Wheei. 

Here's  joyfull  news  came  late  from  sea  ; 
'Tis  of  a  gallant  victory 
Which  o'er  the  French  we  did  obtain 
Upon  the  throbbing  ocean  main. 
As  soon  as  e'er  they  found  our  rage 
The  rogues  was  glad  to  disengage. 

The  French  fleet  sailing  from  Thoulon, 
As  we  by  letters  understand, 
To  join  with  those  that  lay  at  Brest, 
As  some  of  them  have  since  confest ; 
But  our  brave  fleet  with  them  did  meet, 
And  made  the  Frenchmen  soon  retreat. 

Five  ships,  with  others,  did  advance, 
Being  the  very  pride  of  France  : 
The  Lewis,  Dauphin,  and  the  Sun, 
With  others  which  were  forced  to  run. 
As  by  this  ditty  you  shall  hear, 
Brave  English  boys,  the  coast  did  clear. 

The  French  at  first  did  brag  and  boast, 
But  we  so  wisely  rul'd  the  roast, 
Under  our  Admiral  Killegrew, 
That  we  engag'd  and  beat  them  too, 
Declaring  that  we  did  not  fear 
The  haughty  rage  of  proud  Monsieur. 


THE  SEAMEN'S    VICTORY        .09 

Our  admiral  bore  up  amain, 
Resolving  that  he  would  maintain 
A  sharp  and  bloudy  fight  with  those 
Who  dare  King  William's  crown  oppose  : 
Then  broad-sides  streight  began  to  roar, 
Which  laid  the  French  in  reeking  gore. 

Right  valiant  seamen,  fierce  and  bold, 

Couragious  noble  hearts  of  gold, 

All  with  a  resolution  bent, 

Whole  showers  of  shot  to  them  they  sent, 

By  which  the  French  in  hundreds  fell : 

Our  guns  did  ring  their  passing-bell. 

We  pour'd  our  shot  on  e'ery  side, 
"Tis  bravely  done,'  the  captain  cry'd. 
'  Though  sharp  and  bloudy  be  the  fray, 
The  French  are  beat ;  we  have  the  day. 
True  English  boys,  'twas  bravely  done ; 
See  how  the  Frenchmen  run,  they  run.' 

Now  while  we  did  maintain  the  fight 

Two  French  ships  there  we  sunk  downright, 

And  likewise  have  we  taken  three. 

This  crown'd  our  work  with  victory  ; 

The  noble,  valiant  Killegrew 

After  the  rest  do's  still  pursue. 

The  French-men  they  did  [soon]  retreat : 
They  were  a  shatter'd,  torn  fleet. 
But  if  he  shall  them  overtake 
A  prize  of  all  the  rest  he'll  make ; 
Couragious  boys  are  sail'd  with  him, 
Who  freely  ventures  life  and  limb 

Under  the  admiral's  command, 
For  to  defend  the  native  land. 
May  Heaven  prosper  still  and  bless 
Our  valiant  soldiers'  good  success, 
That  we  hereafter  may  advance, 
To  shake  the  very  crown  of  France. 


no  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 


TORRINGTONIA ;    OR,   A   NEW  COPY  OF  VERSES 
ON  THE  LATE  SEA   ENGAGEMENT. 

To  a  Tune  Which  nobody  can  deny. 

I  sing  not  the  battle  (so  fam'd)  of  Lepanto, 
Nor  what  the  Turks  got  by  the  siege  of  Otranto, 
Nor  the  Spanish  Armada  so  brave  and  gallanto, 
Which  nobody  can  deny. 

Nor  how  they  were  bang'd  by  invincible  Drake, 
Nor  the  courage  and  conduct  of  excellent  Blake, 
Nor  of  men  that  fought  bravely  when  all  was  at  stake, 
Which  nobody  can  deny. 

But  a  sort  of  sea-fight  'tween  the  French  and  Hollander, 
Where  th'  English  had  joyn'd,  but  that  their  commander- 
in-chief  wou'd  not  be  a  with-  but  a  by-stander, 
Which  nobody  can  deny. 

The  Dutch  to  the  enemy  boldly  drew  near, 
But  th'  admiral  o'th  English  more  wisely  did  steer, 
For  he  thought  it  was  safer  to  keep  in  the  rear, 
Which  nobody  can  deny. 

Grafton  ('twas  said)  came  courageously  in, 
And  by  mauling  the  French  great  honour  did  win, 
But  Torr'  was  resolv'd  to  sleep  in  a  whole  skin, 
Which  nobody  can  deny. 

Had  each  ship  and  its  captain  but  been  independant, 
They'd  certainly  made  a  [more]  glorious  end  on't, 
Then  commanded  by  such  a  stout  superintendant, 
Which  nobody  can  deny. 

Tyrrel  and  Dorrel  did  boldly  stand  to  'em 
(Thinking  to  beat  the  French  and  to  undo  'em), 
But  th'  Admiral  only  came  thither  to  view  'em, 
Which  nobody  can  deny. 


TORRINGTONIA  in 

And  tho'  the  French  fleet  was  so  little  esteem'd, 
And  their  courage  and  conduct  despisable  deem'd, 
To  wise  Herbert  they  plainly  invincible  seem'd, 
Which  nobody  can  deny. 

Some  ships  too  fool-hardy  did  headlong  engage, 
Which  put  the  stout  admiral  in  such  a  rage, 
That  nought  but  a  whore  could  passion  asswage, 
Which  nobody  can  deny. 

When  the  shot  from  the  enemy  flying  at  random 
Slew  the  stout  hero's  dog,  that  could  no  way  withstand  'em, 
His  bitches  desired  their  master  to  land  'em, 
Which  nobody  can  deny. 

'T would  make  a  man,  much  more  a  woman,  agast,  sir, 
To  see  a  dog  kill'd  'twixt  the  leggs  of  his  master, 
Who  much  more  deserv'd  such  a  dismal  disaster, 
Which  nobody  can  deny. 

Some  say  that  he  wanted  both  powder  and  ball. 
Be  that  true  or  false,  it  was  certainly  all 
One  to  him,  whose  courage  was  so  very  small, 
Which  nobody  can  deny. 

The  Dutch  at  the  enemy  bravely  did  fire  all, 
Tho'  Arthur  commanded  the  fleet  to  retire  all, 
For  which  if  he  be'nt  hang'd  we  much  shou'd  admire  all, 
Which  nobody  can  deny. 

Tho'  the  French  for  a  time  may  bluster  and  boast 
Of  the  honour  they  won  by  Torrington  lost, 
Their  courage  will  cool  when  our  fleet's  on  their  coast, 
Which  nobody  can  deny. 

Not  one  town  of  theirs,  nor  two,  three,  nor  four 
Shall  appease  for  the  pranks  they  play'd  on  our  shoar ; 
We  have  admirals  now  that  will  pay  off  the  score, 
Which  nobody  can  deny. 


Printed  at  the  request  of  a  Tarr  for  the  diversion  of  the  melancholly 

Widows  of  Wapping. 


H2  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

ENGLAND'S   TRIUMPH  AT  SEA   [i69i]. 

A  mighty  great  fleet,  the  like  was  ne're  seen 
Since  the  reign  of  King  William  and  Mary  his  Queen 
DesjgrVd  the  destruction  of  France  to  hJe  been         ' 
Which  nobody  can  deny. 

This  fleet  was  compos'd  of  English  and  Dutch 
For  ships,  guns,  and  men  there  was  never  seen  such  ■ 
Nor  so  httle  done,  when  expected  so  much  ' 

Which  nobody  can  deny. 

Eighty-six  ships  of  war,  which  we  capitall  call 
Besides  fngats  and  tenders,  and  yachts  that  are  small 

ayl  i,°,Ut'  and  dld  little  or  nothing  at  all  ' 

Which  nobody  can  deny. 

Thirty-nine  thousand  and  five  hundred  brave  men 
Had  they  chanc'd  to  have  met  the  French  flee?  O  then 
As  they  beat  'em  last  year,  they'd  have  beat  S  agen    ' 
Which  nobody  can  deny.  *      ' 

Six  thousand  great  guns,  and  seventy-eight  more 
As  great  and  as  good  as  ever  did  roar  ■ 

W//6n  th^me  thing  had  they  kft  'em  ashore 
Which  nobody  can  deny. 

Torrington  now  must  command  'em  no  more 
For  we  try'd  what  mettal  he  was  made  on  before 

^b?terzf0r  him  on  land  for  ^  whore, 
Which  nobody  can  deny. 

For  a  bullet,  perhaps,  from  a  rude  cannon's  breach 
WaHm?leS  2°  distinction  betwixt  poor  and  rich,' 

e^°f,hlS  d0g  miSht  have  ta'ne  off  his  bitch 
Which  nobody  can  deny. 

But  Russell  the  cherry-cheekt  Russell,  is  chose 
His  fine  self  and  his  fleet  at  sea  to  expose  : 
But  he  will  take  care  how  he  meets  with  his  foes, 
Which  nobody  can  deny. 


NAVAL    WARFARE   OF   1691        113 

For  there  was  a  lady  he  left  on  land, 
To  whom  he  had  promised  his  heart  and  his  hand. 
Though  in  her  youth  she  was  otherwise  mann  d, 
Which  nobody  can  deny. 

And  why  plump  Russell  who  need  never  beg, 
To  move  our  compassion,  goe  venture  a  leg, 
And  break  the  heart  of  the  good  Lady  Peg, 
Which  nobody  can  deny. 

We  had  sea-collonells  o'  th'  nature  of  otter, 
Which  either  might  serve  by  land  or  by  water, 
Tho'  of  what  they  have  done  we  hear  no  great  matter, 
Which  nobody  can  deny. 

In  the  month  of  May  last  they  sailed  on  the  main, 
And  now  in  September  are  come  back  again, 
With  the  loss  of  some  ships,  but  in  battle  none  slain, 
Which  nobody  can  deny. 


ENGLAND'S  GREAT  LOSS  BY  A   STORM  OF 

WIND. 

You  gentlemen  of  England  fair, 
Who  live  at  home  free  from  all  care, 
Little  do  you  think  or  know 
What  we  poor  sailors  undergo  : 
We  whine  and  toil  upon  the  waves, 
We  work  like  Turks  or  galley  slaves. 

'Twas  on  November  the  second  day 

When  first  our  admiral  bore  away  ; 

Intending  for  his  native  shore, 

The  wind  at  west- south  west  did  roar, 

Attended  by  a  dismal  sky, 

And  the  seas  did  run  full  mountains  high. 

The  very  first  land  that  we  did  make, 
It  chanc'd  to  be  the  old  Ram's  Head, 
Which  made  us  all  rejoice  around 
To  see  our  flag-stem  in  Plymouth  Sound, 
Stretching  well  over  for  Fishes  Nose. 
Thinking  to  fetch  up  in  [H]amose. 


H4 


SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

The  tide  of  ebb  t^b^^ 
She  set  strong  to  the  ^  ^ 

Which  put  us  att  «  Q    wQuld  nQt  wear, 
To  see  our  ships,  they  ased  ^re, 

The  wmd  and  wea the  ^  shore_ 

And  drove  nine  sail  01 

rnme  to  Northumberland  Rock, 
When  we  ^  j 

The  Lyon,  Lynx,* 
The  Z^ .  and  ^ ^a        ru£  . 
The  £/tf^  m!i  the  »ne  broke, 

§&Effi£&* at  first  s"° 

The  l«*f  *£S*  anS  aU  hCT  Vnen• 
^St^rroo-afe  on  shore. 

Ast„  our  ship,  -;tesSwslot; 
Had  it  not  fallen  to  ou         ^ 
The  greatest  ^  husbauds' lives  ; 

ln  \°f  SOW  Sand  it  may  be  more 

ffSof  ships  on  shore. 

[NAVAL    WARFARE   OF  r6,2.] 
To  the  Tune  of  Aim  not  too  high- 

To  God  alone  let  us ^J^tStd.  live, 
By  whose  P«m.ss.on  «  P °         wkh      de 

^srn^°aUnSmmpS^OTeVetySlde- 

Whieh  by  *e  Pr°™gVs  and  liberty 
l0or^nehdrandProplsb  erue.  tyranny. 


NAVAL    WARFARE   OF  1692        115 

When  in  dark  gloomy  cells  the  plot  was  laid 
ThTs  free-born  land  and  nation  to  invade, 
Bold  Brfttain  sail'd  forthwith  her  royal  fleet, 
Which  did  the  daring  enemy  defeat. 

Renowned  Russell  let  them  understand 

ToTace  proud  Lewis,  that  insulting  foe. 

No  fear  nor  favour  could  his  actions  sway, 
Sor  cou!d  ne  in  the  least  be  drawn  away 

From  acting  like  a  noble  hero  bold 

For  all  the  promised  gifts,  of  cursed  goiu 

rrv^l  valiant  Ashby  let  them  feel  his  rage, 
[Whfle  death  he  rid  in  triumph  o'er  the  stage 
Of  he  French  navy  on  the  ocean  main, 
And.  English  boys  did  victory  obtain. 

The  spirits  of  the  French  began  to  faint 
S?  that thev  pray'd  to  ev'ry  Popish  saint 

With  man    more,  which  *<£*££* 

He  soon  did  set,  our  glory  to  procla.m. 

Sir  Cloudsly  Shovel,  with  a  valiant  heart 
"om  whenee  they  never  can  return  agam. 
The  force  of  France  he  ne'er  was! taown  tofear, 

V„d  monument  in  a  rough  roarmg  wave. 


n  6  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

The  next  was  Rook,  that  brave,  heroick  soul, 
Who  none  alive  could  ever  yet  controul  • 
A  dozen  men-of-war  of  France  he  burn'd 
Who  e'er  next  day  was  all  to  ashes  turn'd. 

The  French  was  tollow'd  to  their  very  shore 
Pursu'd  with  guns,  which  did  like  thunder  roar  • 
buch  admirals  before  was  never  known  • 
They  scar'd  old  Lewis-nay,  and  shook  his  throne. 

Nor  were  the  valiant  Dutch-men  far  behind  ■ 
1  hey  on  the  ocean  bear  a  noble  mind  ■ 
True  sons  of  thunder,  that  will  not  retreat 
Until  they  see  their  foes  destroyed  and  beat. 

Tho'  they  had  once  been  wounded  on  the  main 
Like  soldiers,  they  resolved  to  bleed  again, 
Or  bring  the  proud  insulting  tyrant  low, 
Who  strives  to  seek  all  Europe's  overthrow. 

Those  valiant  souls  let  all  good  men  commend  • 
lheir  lives  they  ventur'd  freely  to  defend 
Religion,  laws,  and  likewise  liberty  : 
Tis  better  dye  than  live  in  slavery. 

-But  God  above,  I  hope,  will  ever  bless 
Our  arms  by  sea  and  land  with  good  success, 
1  hat  victories  may  constantly  increase 
Till  war  is  swallow'd  in  a  glorious  peace. 

Now  for  King  William  let  all  subjects  pray, 
I  hat  God  would  guard  his  person  night  and  day  ; 
i-rom  all  false  friends,  and  likewise  open  foes 
Let  angels  guard  him  wheresoe'er  he  goes 


THE   ROYAL    TRIUMPH  H7 

?£G?ollOVS  VICTORY  OVER  THE  F*™™ 

BY  THE  ENGLISH  AND  DUTCH  ™fT%™ 
THE    JOY    AND     COMFORT     OF     ALL      TRUE 

SUBJECTS. 

Tune  is,  Ztf  <fe  «*#&«  W*- 

Valiant  Protestant  boys, 

Here's  millions  of  joys 

u  ™  hro  u-ht  from  the  ocean  ; 

<\nd  triumph  now  oro  .  .  .  •  "&"* 

For  the  French  mighty  fleet 

Mnw  is  shattered  and  beat, 
And  destructor!  destruction,  boys,  -ill  be  then  port.on. 

Here's  the  Jacobite  crew— 

Now  believe  me,  'tis  true- 
Invited  the  Fre nch  to  this  nation  ; 

Who  was  crossing  the  seas, 

With  the  Teague  Rapparees, 
True  cut-throats,  true  cut-throats,  upon  my  salvation. 

But,  alas  !  they  did  find 
A  true  Protestant  wind, 
Which  five  weeks  or  Ion  ...  -ger  it  lasted, 

Till  the  most  royal  fleet, 
\nd  the  Dutch  both  compleat. 
They  with  thunder,  w,th  thunder  th,s  project  soon  btasted. 

On  the  nineteenth  of  May 

The  French  fleet  made  way, 
To  make  of  our  con  •  •  •  •  rage  a.tryal: 

They  suppos'd  we  d  ne'er  fight, 

"Rut  thev  werent  in  the  right, 
For  we  show'd  then!  we  show'd  them  we  were  true  and  lo>al. 

Our  admirals  bold, 

With  their  brave  hearts  ot  gold, 


- 


u8  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Our  squadron,  true  blew, 

Fought  their  way  through  and  through  ; 
At  length  in  Lobs'  Po  .  .  .  .  und,  boys,  we  got  'urn, 

Where  we  gave  the  proud  French 

Such  a  fiery  drench 
That  we  sent  them,  we  sent  them  straight  down  to  the  bottom. 

Such  a  slaughter  we  made, 

While  the  loud  cannons  play'd, 
Which  laid  the  poor  Mo  ....  nsieurs  a-bleeding  ; 

Nay,  their  chief  admiral 

We  did  bitterly  maul, 
And  have  taught  him,  I  hope,  better  breeding. 

Our  brave  admiral 

Being  stout  Dellaval, 
Whose  actions  all  m  ...  .  en  may  admire  : 

For  the  French  Rising  Sun 

Was  not  able  to  run, 
Which  with  seven,  with  seven  more  ships  did  he  fire. 

Valiant  Rook  sail'd  straightway 

Where  a  French  squadron  lay 
Close  amongst  the  ro  .  .  .  .  cks  then  for  shelter  ; 

But  we  fell  on  galore, 

And  we  fir'd  twelve  more  ; 
Thus  we  fir'd  and  burn'd  the  French  fleet  helter-skelter. 


Being  sunk,  took,  and  burn'd, 

There's  not  many  return'd, 
Was  this  not  a  wo  ...  .  full  disaster  ? 

How  they  far'd  on  our  coast 

Let  'em  sail  home  and  boast 
To  old  Lewis,  old  Lewis,  their  fistula-master. 

When  he  hears  how  they  sped 

It  will  strike  him  near  dead. 
Losing  what  he  lo  .  .  .  .  ng  has  been  getting  ; 

But  we'll  have  him  to  know 

That  we'll  still  keep  him  low  : 
He  shall  never,  shall  never,  boys,  conquer  Great  Britain. 


THE  BATTLE   OF  LA    HOGUE     119 

ADMIRAL  RUSSELL'S  SCO  WE  RING   THE  TRENCH 
FLEET,    OR,    THE  BATTLE   AT  SEA. 

Thursday  in  the  morn,  the  Ides  of  May, 

Recorded  be  for  ever  the  famous  ninety-two. 
LI  rave  Russel  did  discern  by  dawn  of  day 

The  lofty  sails  of  France  advancing  now. 
'  All  hands  aloft,  aloft ;  let  English  valour  shine. 
Let  fly  a  culvering,  the  signal  of  the  line  ; 

Let  ev'ry  hand  supply  his  gun. 
Follow  me,  and  you'll  see 

That  the  battle  will  be  soon  begun.' 


Tourville  o'er  the  main  triumphant  rowl'd 

To  meet  the  gallant  Russel  in  combat  on  the  deep  ; 
He  led  the  noble  train  of  heroes  bold 

To  sink  the  English  admiral  at  his  feet. 
Now  every  valiant  mind  to  victory  does  aspire  ; 
The  bloody  fight's  begun,  the  sea  itself  on  fire, 

And  mighty  Fate  stood  looking  on 
Whilst  a  flood  all  of  blood 

Fill'd  the  port-holes  of  the  Royal  Sun. 

Sulpher,  smoak,  and  fire  disturbed  the  air, 

With  thunder  and  wonder  to  fright  the  Gallick  shore  ; 
Their  regulated  bands  stood  trembling  near 

To  see  their  lofty  streamers  now  no  more. 
At  six  a  clock  the  Red  the  smiling  victor  led, 
To  give  a  second  blow,  their  total  overthrow. 

Now  death  and  horror  equal  reign  ; 
Now  they  cry,  run,  or  dye  ! 

Brittish  colours  ride  the  vanquish'd  main. 

See  they  run  amaz'd  thro'  rocks  on  sands  : 

One  danger  they  grasp  at,  to  shun  a  greater  fate. 
In  vain  they  crie  for  aid  to  weeping  lands  ; 

The  nimphs  and  sea  gods  mourn  their  lost  estate. 
For  ever  more  adieu,  thou  dazling  Royal  Sun  ; 
From  thy  untimely  end  thy  master's  fate  begun  : 

Enough,  thou  mighty  god  of  war. 
Now  we  sing,  '  God  bless  the  King, 

Let  us  drink  to  ev'ry  English  tar.' 


T20  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

Come,  jolly  seamen,  all  with  Russel  go 

To  sail  on  the  main,  proud  Monsieur  for  to  greet 
And  give  our  enemy  a  second  blow, 

And  fight  Tourville  if  that  he  dare  to  meet. 
Come,  brother  tar,  what  cheer  ?     Let  each  [his  gun]  supply, 
And  thump  'em  off  this  year,  or  make  Mounsie[u]r  to  fly 

While  we  do  range  the  ocean  round. 
Day  or  night  we  will  fight 

When  our  enemy  is  to  be  found. 

Let  it  ne'er  be  said  that  English  boys 

Should  e'er  stay  behind  when  their  admiral  goes  ; 
But  let  each  honest  lad  crie  with  one  voice, 

'  Brave  Russel,  lead  us  on  to  fight  the  foes.' 
We'll  give  them  gun  for  gun,  some  sink  and  other  burn. 
Broad-sides  we'll  give  'em  too,  till  Monsieur  crys, '  Morblew  ! 

Des  Engleteer  vill  kill  us  all.' 
Whilst  they  scower  we  will  pour 

Thick  as  hail  amongst  them  cannon-ball. 


A  MERRY  NEW  BALLAD  ON  THE  GREAT 
VICTORY  OVER  THE  FRENCH  FLEET,  MAY 
THE  igth,  1692. 

To  as  merry  a  new  Tune,  Hey  !  for  the  honour  of  Old  England. 

I  sing  ye  a  ballad  as  round  me  ye  stand, 
Which  is  for  the  honour  of  Old  England  : 

Old  England,  Old  England : 
Which  is  for  the  honour  of  Old  England. 

In  the  month  of  May,  the  year  ninety-two, 

The  Englishman  did  his  old  valour  show : 

Old  England,  Old  England,  etc. 

We  sent  out  our  scouts  the  foe  to  descry 
When  Cape  de  Hague  we  were  sailing  by 
Old  England,  etc. 


BATTLE   OF  LA    HOGUE  121 

This  was  a  good  omen,  we  now  understand, 
And  Lewis  hates  Hague  by  sea  or  by  land  : 
Old  England,  etc. 

But  in  our  Channel  the  battel  was  fought, 
And  so  the  French  fleet  in  a  net  was  caught, 

Net  was  caught,  net  was  caught ; 
And  so  the  French  fleet  in  a  net  was  caught. 

\ 

Yet  Monsieur,  expecting  that  all  was  his  own, 

On  Admirall  Russell  did  boldly  bear  down  : 
Old  England,  etc. 

He  gave  a  broad-side,  which  was  kindly  took, 
And  then  the  Britannia  in  thunder  spoke, 

Thunder  spoke,  thunder  spoke, 
And  then  the  '  Britannia  '  in  thunder  spoke. 

Till  in  musquet  shot  she  fires  no  gun, 
In  compliment  then  salutes  the  French  Sun, 
Old  England,  etc. 

And  warms  her  sides  so  that  for  all  her  might 
She  fairly  tows  off",  and  bids  us  good  night : 
Old  England,  etc. 

Thus  have  we  been  taught  in  a  tale  or  old  song, 
French  fury  was  never  known  to  last  long  : 
Old  England,  etc. 

When  Tourville  had  given  the  signal  to  flye, 
His  squadrons,  as  ready,  do  westward,  ho  !  ply  : 
Old  England,  etc. 

Some  of  his  lame  geese,  not  able  to  bear 
Their  heads  above  water,  to  the  bottom  they  steer : 
Old  England,  etc. 

The  rest  we  pursue  in  their  stragling  flight, 
And  chase  the  poltrons  most  part  of  the  night : 

Old  England,  Old  England, 
And  hey  !  for  the  honour  of  Old  England. 

The  next  morning  was  foggy ;  but  when  it  grew  clear 
The  chase  was  renew'd,  and  so  was  their  fear : 
Old  England,  etc. 


i22  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

We  made  all  our  sail,  and  gave  'em  no  rest. 
From  point  to  point  drove  'em,  from  west  to  east  : 
Old  England,  etc. 

Those  coursers,  so  brisk  at  the  starting-place, 
Run  heavily  now  through  Alderney  Race  : 
Old  England,  etc. 

Into  Cherburgh  Bay  three  tall  ones  did  run, 
Where  a  northern  blaze  burns  up  the  south  Sun  : 
Old  England,  etc. 

'Twas  Heath  did  this  feat ;  and  Greenway  another, 
For  the  Conquerant  fell,  in  flames  and  in  smother  : 
Old  England,  etc. 

And  Fowlis  was  daring,  though  he  miss'd  his  prey  ; 
He  flew  at  the  Sun,  but  stoopt  by  the  way  : 
Old  England,  etc. 

But  now  we  are  making  for  Bay  Le  Hogue, 
Where  on  land,  they  say,  are  many  a  brogue : 
Old  England,  etc. 

These  doughty  wights,  those  true  Irish  Teagues 
Won't  let  us  come  near  'em  by  several  leagues : 
Old  England,  etc. 

Such  gallant  alliance  the  French  much  imports  ; 
They'll  save  their  friends'  ships,  as  they  did  their  own  forts 
Old  England,  etc. 

But  manning  our  boats,  those  wise  ones  we  cozen, 
And  burn  in  this  bay  thirteen  to  the  dozen  : 
Old  England,  etc. 

This  action's  far  greater  than  that  of  Lepanto, 
And  merits  alone  a  whole  noble  canto  : 
Old  England,  etc. 

For,  like  the  old  Britains,  our  men  did  assail  'em 
In  open  boats,  and  naked  we  quail  'em  ; 
Old  England,  etc. 


BATTLE   OF  LA    MOGUL  123 

We  storm'd  their  fore-eastles,  their  decks  we  did  scale, 
And  with  their  own  canon  we  made  'em  turn  tale  : 
Old  England,  etc. 

Earl  Danby  commanded  the  headmost  boat, 
Which  was  in  a  moment  from  under  him  shot  : 
Old  England,  etc. 

Then  a  musquet  ball  does  graze  on  his  shin, 
But  still  he  goes  on,  more  honour  to  win  : 
Old  England,  etc. 

Not  a  captain  was  here  but  toss'd  up  his  brands  ; 
The  seamen  were  furies,  with  flames  in  their  hands  : 
Old  England,  etc. 

What  bonfires  we  made  on  our  Norman  coast  ! 
Where  William  the  Conqueror  rules  the  roast : 

Rules  the  roast,  rules  the  roast ; 
Where  William  the  Conqueror  rules  the  roast. 

But  now  in  all  pomps,  where  great  men  appear, 
The  post  of  honour  is  still  in  the  reer : 
Old  England,  etc. 

Brave  Russel  can  never  enough  be  prais'd  ; 
Such  trophies  are  owing  as  never  were  rais'd  : 
Old  England,  etc. 

To  his  courage  and  conduct  great  honours  are  due  : 
To  all  of  the  flag  ;  the  Red,  White,  and  Blew  : 
Old  England,  etc. 

To  Delaval,  Almonde,  Shovell,  Ashby,  Rook, 
Whose  names  are  all  writ  in  Fame's  lasting  book  : 
Old  England,  etc. 

To  Carter,  the  bold  !  who  never  can  die  ; 
He  only  i'th'  bed  of  honour  does  lie  : 
Old  England,  etc. 

His  story  is  great,  for  he  comes  not  an  ace 
Behind  Withrington  in  Old  Chevy  Chace. 
Old  England,  etc. 


i24  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Nay,  he  is  before  him,  for  he  fought  on  his  stumps, 
With  joy  in  his  face  and  not  doleful  dumps  : 
Old  England^  etc. 

Stout  Hastings  shall  live ;  shall  ever  be  famed, 
With  all  our  commanders,  too  long  to  be  named  : 
Old  England,  etc. 

What  need  we  say  more  ?  there  is  no  occasion  ; 
This  French  does  excell  the  Spanish  invasion  : 
Old  England,  etc. 

The  downfall  of  Lewis  le  Grand  is  reckon'd 
So  far  above  that  of  Philip  the  Second  : 
Old  England,  etc. 

'Twas  in  eight  eight  Queen  Bess  swept  the  main, 
In  ninety-two  Queen  Mary  the  same  : 
Old  England,  etc. 

Now  all  English  lads  not  enter'd  their  teens 

Shall  chant  forth  the  praise  of  those  Protestant  Queens, 

Protestant  Queens  !  Protestant  Queens  ! 
Shall  chant  out  the  praise  of  those  Protestant  Queens. 

Our  London  merchants  will  now  live  at  ease, 
May  trade  without  convoys  all  over  the  seas  : 
Old  England,  etc. 

The  New-Castle  men  may  bring  in  their  coals ; 
And  never  must  Petres  say  Mass  in  Paul's, 

Mass  in  Paul's  !  Mass  in  Paul's  ! 
And  never  must  Petres  say  Mass  in  Paul's. 


VALIANT  SEAMEN'S   COURAGE     125 


THE    VALIANT  SEAMEN'S  COURAGE: 

Who  by  the  order  of  the  Right  Honourable  Admiral 
Russel  did  on  the  tenth  of  May  perform  a  brave 
t:\ploit  on  the  French,  burning  thirty-eight  sail 
of  their  merchantmen,  and  taking  a  man-of-war, 
to  the  great  honour  of  the  English  nation. 

To  the  Tune  of  Fond  boy,  etc. 

Joyful  tydings  I  bring ;  let  us  merrily  sing 
Till  we  make  the  whole  nation  with  triumph  to  ring  ; 
For  an  admiral,  he,  by  his  conduct  at  sea, 
Now  has  made  the  poor  French-men  to  come  by  the  lee. 
This  is  but  the  beginning  of  what  zve  intend 
For  to  shew  them  before  the  brave  summer  does  end. 

A  detachment  sent  out  bravely  scour'd  about 
Till  they  put  a  whole  fleet  of  French  ships  to  the  rout  ; 
We  were  four  or  five  sail,  who  to  fight  never  fail, 
And  the  one  carry'd  fiery  flames  in  her  tail. 
This,  etc. 

To  these  merchants  of  France  we  did  fairly  advance  ; 
So  good  was  our  fortunate,  prosperous  chance 
That  we  put  them  in  fear :  to  the  shore  they  did  steer, 
While  we  follow'd  with  thundering  shot  in  the  reer. 
This,  etc. 

me  was  sailing  for  Brest  and  St.  Malo's,  we  guest, 
To  fair  Dunkirk  with  stores  and  provision  the  rest ; 
But  their  voyage  we  stay'd  and  fierce  havock  we  made, 
While  our  thundering  cannons  against  them  we  play'd. 
This,  etc. 

Quoth  the  frighted  Mounsieur,  '  To  de  shore  let  us  steer, 
Here  is  coming  five  sail  of  de  proud  Englateer  ; 
Now,  begar,  let  us  run  from  de  noise  of  deir  gun, 
Or  dey'll  serve  us  as  dey  did  our  dear  Rising  Sun.' 
'  this  is  but  a  taste,  boys,  of  what  we  intend 
For  to  give  them  before  the  brave  summer  does  end. 


126  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

As  they  fled  in  disgrace  still  we  mended  our  pace, 
And,  like  true  sons  of  thunder,  we  follow'd  the  chase, 
Where  in  harbour  near  shore  thirty-eight  sail  or  more 
We  did  set  all  on  fire  ;  in  flames  they  did  roar. 
This,  etc. 

When  our  project  did  take,  such  a  flame  it  did  make, 
Just  as  if  the  seas  had  been  a  fiery  lake  ; 
All  their  charges  and  cost  of  their  cargo  were  lost : 
Now  was  ever  poor  French- men  so  plaguely  crost  ? 
2his,  etc. 

It  was  on  the  tenth  day  of  this  sweet  month  of  May 
When  the  valiant  bold  Britains  did  shew  them  this  play, 
And  we  make  no  great  doubt,  e'er  the  summer  is  out, 
For  to  give  them  a  sharp  and  more  vigorous  rout. 
This,  etc. 

Boys,  the  work  we'll  compleat  with  a  most  royal  fleet, 
For  we  valiant  tarpollins  do  scorn  to  retreat ; 
Not  a  French-man  we'll  spare ;  let  them  come  if  they  dare 
On  the  ocean,  brave  Russel  will  fight  with  them  fair. 
This  is  but  a  beginning  of  what  he  intends 
For  to  shew  them  before  the  brave  summer  it  ends. 


ENGLAND'S  GLORY  LN  THE  BEHAVLOUR   OF 
BRAVE  KLLLEYGROVE. 

All  you  that  will  be  England's  friends,  be  you  rich  or  be  you 

poor, 
Give  ear  to  me  and  I'll  relate  what  happened  in  ninety-four. 
'Twas  in  the  month  of  December — mark  well  but  what  I  say — 
The  Plymouth,  with  five  frigates  more,  set  sail  out  of  Cales  Bay. 

Brave  Killeygrove  was  commodore,  bound  up  into  the  Streights, 
Where  he  lost  his  life  with  many  more,  and  this  was  their  hard 

fate. 
When  we  came  off  the  Cape  Boner,  two  ships  we  did  espy, 
Which  prov'd  to  be  French  men-of-war,  and  to  us  they  drew 

nigh. 


BRAVE  KILLEYGROVE  127 

They  took  us  to  be  merchant-men,  come  down  from  the  Levant, 
From  Smyrna  or  from  Scanderoon,  from  Venice  or  Mercant, 
Till  bearing  down  before  the  wind,  the  truth  of  it  to  view, 
They  took  us  to  be  men-of-war,  and  they  found  it  to  be  true. 

O,  then  they  tack'd,  and  we  stood  after,  as  fast  as  we  could  hie, 
But  before  it  was  full  three  o'clock  to  them  we  did  draw  nigh. 
O,  then  bespoke  brave  Killeygrove,  to  his  men   both  brisk  and 
free,  ' 

'  I  make  no  doubt  but  in  little  time  our  prizes  they  will  be.' 

The  French  were  not  unwilling  to  fight,   but  to  fire  they  did 

begin  ; 
Then  we  gave  them  a  whole  broadside,  which  made  their  ears  to 

ring. 
We  had  not  fir'd  passing  two  broadsides,  as  I  remember  well, 
But  there  came  an  unlucky  shot,  by  which  brave  Killeygrove 

fell. 


Then  Raleigh  was  the  second  man  that  did  take  up  the  sword  ; 
And  bravely  he  did  manage  it,  as  you  may  take  my  word. 
We  had  not  been  engaged  there  not  past  one  glass  or  two, 
But  that  the  Falmouth  she  came  up,  and  she  gave  the  last  her 
due. 


Next  came  the  little  Adventure  up,  and  her  guns  she  fir'd  so  true 
She  put  Jack  Frenchman  to  the  rout,  he  knew  not  what  to  do. 
We  being  quite  disabled,  the  Carlisle  she  made  way 
After  the  biggest  of  the  two,  and  she  carry'd  her  the  next  day. 

But  had  our  mast  and  tiller  held,  O  !  then  they  would  have  seen, 
Notwithstanding,  for  all  the  Carlisle,  our  prizes  they  should  have 

been. 
But,  to  conclude,  they  were  taken  both,  for  all  they  were  so  bold. 
And  soon  after  they  were  carried  into  Marseilles  Mold. 


128  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 


AN  EXCELLENT  SONG,   CALEB  THE  FRLGHTED 
FRENCH ;  OR,   RUSSEL   SCOURING   THE   SEAS. 

To  a  Pleasant  Tune. 

Russel  on  the  ocean,  minding  Tourville's  motion, 
Made  them  to  run  at  the  noise  of  our  guns, 

And  Toulon  shall  be  their  portion  ; 
The  French  must  trot  it  home  by  land, 
Whilst  Russel  on  the  seas  command. 
Sound  the  trumpet,  beat  the  drum,  while  the  French  do  run, 
Sound  the  trumpet,  etc.,  sound,  etc.,  while  the  French  do  run  still 
before  us. 


Now  the  spring's  a-coming,  our  English  will  be  burning 
Your  towns  that  be  builded  near  the  sea  ; 

You'll  find  the  sea-men  booming  ; 
Then  let  your  armies  all  advance, 
Yet  we'll  lye  on  the  coast  of  France, 
Sounding  trumpets,  beating  drum,  while  the  towns  do  burn, 
Sounding   trumpets,  etc.,  sounding  trumpets,  towns  do  burn  unto 
ashes. 


The  Turk  and   the  barbarian,  how  the  English  fleet  do 

scare  'em 
And  make  them  to  know,  before  they  do  go, 
That  the  French  shall  dread  and  fear  'em. 
Now,  Monsieur,  bring  out  all  you  can  ; 
We'll  fight  you  ship  or  man  to  man. 
Sound  the  trumpet,  etc.,  sound,  etc.,  man  to  man,  we   will  fight 
''em. 


Each  brave  English  freeman  will  be  a  jolly  seaman  : 
With  Russel  we'll  go  to  fight  the  foe, 

For  the  honour  of  Old  England. 
Let  Tourville  with  his  fleet  then  come ; 
Some  we'll  sink  and  some  we'll  burn. 
Gun  for  gun  we'll  give  them  too,  while  they  cry,  '  Morbleu  ! 
Gun  for  gun,  etc.,  gun,  etc.,  while  they  cry,  '  We  are  routed  '.  ' 


ln  ioulon  thev  ill  a^  -      7    ' 

Whilst  Russel  in   Lf  e     ea.k  and  hl'de, 
firing  Tourville  faTto  cS^!f^  d°th  "^ 
*■?*  *W*.  ■iTS&'S    T?  °Ut  *  fleet, 

rjW1  are  "*-  <**  *  «he  ,orld  „e 

«e  cares  not  what  >i,~  eP  lea> 
Since  the  Red  Sm  ,rf       re"ch  ran  d°- 
Are  full  resolved  for  In X       "  a"d  the  Bl«> 

«*».       M  "  *  «*  *.  masurs,  etc.,  ,„  spiu  a/ 

THE   C.£SAR'S   VICTORY. 
It   being  [an] 

v°yage  to  the  East   I„i  !P,  so  ca,1ed  in  her 

^s  beset  w,th  Le  sfe-"^  'aden>  fwhichj 
s°  rarely  behaved  hee°f  thT. ''  bUt  the  C^rJ 
conquest  and    put  hPr  7        '  She  came  off  with 
more  than  one-man ^Tu°  K^  "osing     o 
one  of  which  was  F^e!1!^1  S6Ve"  "oufdei 
»;ho  formerly  p]y>d   "     pf^6^ a  Wa^r-man, 
his  arm.         "  '  °  d   at   P"ddle-Dock,   who   lost 

To  U«  Tune  of  Cannons  rare. 
WelTladeaatai!^onti>ernai„, 

JESSES**' 


i3o  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

We  soon  did  understand  their  will, 
And  therefore  used  our  chiefest  skill, 
Resolving  there  our  blood  to  spill 

Rather  than  lose  our  Ccesar  : 
We  vow'd  she  should  not  be  their  prey, 
And  therefore,  boys,  we  show'd  them  play. 
It  was  upon  the  Sabbath  day : 

No  pirates  could  appease  her. 

The  master,  flourishing  his  sword, 

Did  comfort  to  us  all  afford, 

Both  seamen,  souldiers  then  on  board, 

True  courage  to  awaken  ; 
Then  with  one  voice  we  all  did  cry, 
'  We  are  resolved  to  make  them  fly, 
Or  in  the  Ccesar  we  will  dye, 

Rather  than  to  be  taken.' 


Before  the  fight  we  this  did  do  : 

Our  bread  into  the  sea  we  threw, 

To  make  room  for  the  whole  ship's  crew 

To  fight  and  keep  foes  under : 
This  truth  can  never  be  deny'd, 
We  soon  did  quell  their  haughty  pride 
By  giving  them  a  full  broadside  : 

Our  cannons  roar'd  like  thunder. 

Full  five  long  hours  there  we  fought, 
In  the  brave  Ccesar,  fierce  and  stout ; 
At  length  we  put  them  to  the  rout 

Who  aimed  at  our  treasure : 
We  pour'd  them  in  whole  showers  of  lead, 
So  that  they  tumbled  down  for  dead 
And  in  the  ocean  made  their  bed, 

Where  they  may  lie  their  leisure. 

Their  admiral  did  want  to  be 

Aboard  of  Ccesar,  this  we  see, 

That  they  might  have  rich  plunder  free, 

The  thing  which  they  delight  in  : 
But  yet  there  was  not  one  that  dare 
To  come  on  board  of  Ccesar  there  ; 
They  knew  their  lives  we  would  not  spare, 

So  fierce  we  was  for  fighting. 


CAPTAIN  EVERY  \%\ 


o 


Good  Fortune  she  our  courage  crown'd, 
Or  else  aboard  on  us  they'd  found 
The  sum  of  fourscore  thousand  pound, 

Besides  all  other  lading  : 
Could  they  but  once  have  seen  us  fall, 
Their  booty  then  had  not  been  small, 
Two  hundred  thousand  pound  in  all  ; 

This  would  have  spoil'd  our  trading. 

I  hope  we  gave  them  all  their  due, 
Yet  sav'd  our  coyn  and  cargo  too. 
Believe  me,  this  is  perfect  true, 

It  is  no  feigned  story  : 
For  though  our  foes  were  five  to  one. 
Yet  we  at  last  did  make  them  run  : 
And  when  we  see  our  work  was  done 

To  God  we  gave  the  glory, 

Who  did  indeed  our  rights  maintain  : 
For  in  this  skirmish  on  the  main 
Of  us  there  was  but  one  man  slain, 

And  seven  others  wounded  : 
But  those  that  sought  our  overthrow, 
They  lost  a  many  more,  we  know. 
Thus  Providence  did  kindness  show 

When  we  was  so  surrounded. 


A  COPY  OF  VERSES,  COMPOSED  BY  CAPTAIN 
HENRY  EVERY,  LATELY  GONE  TO  SEA  TO 
SEEK  HIS  FORTUNE. 

To  the  Tune  of  The  Two  English  Travellers. 

Come,  all  you  brave  boys,  whose  courage  is  bold, 
Will  you  venture  with  me  ?  I'll  glut  you  with  gold. 
Make  haste  unto  Corona  :  a  ship  you  will  find, 
That's  called  the  Fancy,  will  pleasure  your  mind. 

Captain  Every  is  in  her,  and  calls  her  his  own  ; 
He  will  box  her  about,  boys,  before  he  has  done  : 
French,  Spaniard,  and  Portuguese,  the  heathen  likewise, 
He  has  made  a  war  with  them  until  that  he  dies. 

K  2 


1 32  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Her  model's  like  wax,  and  she  sails  like  the  wind  ; 
She  is  rigg'd,  and  fitted,  and  curiously  trimm'd, 
And  all  things  convenient  has  for  his  design. 
God  bless  his  poor  Fancy,  she's  bound  for  the  mine. 

Farewel,  fair  Plimouth,  and  Cat-Down  be  damn'd  : 
I  once  was  part-owner  of  most  of  that  land  ; 
But  as  I  am  disown'd,  so  I'll  abdicate 
My  person  from  England  to  attend  on  my  fate. 

Then  away  from  this  climate  and  temperate  zone, 
To  one  that's  more  torrid,  you'll  hear  I  am  gone 
With  an  hundred  and  fifty  brave  sparks  of  this  age, 
Who  are  fully  resolved  their  foes  to  engage. 

These  northern  parts  are  not  thrifty  for  me ; 
I'll  rise  the  Anterise,  that  some  men  shall  see 
I  am  not  afraid  to  let  the  world  know 
That  to  the  South  Seas  and  to  Persia  I'll  go. 

Our  names  shall  be  blaz[on]ed  and  spread  in  the  sky, 
And  many  brave  places  I  hope  to  descry 
Where  never  a  French  man  e'er  yet  has  been, 
Nor  any  proud  Dutchman  can  say  he  has  seen. 

My  commission  is  large,  and  I  made  it  myself, 
And  the  capston  shall  stretch  it  full  larger  by  half ; 
It  was  dated  in  Corona,  believe  it,  my  friend, 
From  the  year  ninety-three  unto  the  world's  end. 

I  honour  St.  George,  and  his  colours  I  were, 
Good  quarters  I  give,  but  no  nation  I  spare  ; 
The  world  must  assist  me  with  what  I  do  want ; 
I'll  give  them  my  bill  when  my  money  is  scant. 

Now  this  I  do  say  and  solemnly  swear  : 
He  that  strikes  to  St.  George  the  better  shall  fare 
But  he  that  refuses  shall  suddenly  spy 
Strange  colours  aboard  of  my  Fancy  to  fly. 

Four  chiviliges  of  gold  in  a  bloody  field, 
Environ'd  with  green,  now  this  is  my  shield ; 
Yet  call  out  for  quarter  before  you  do  see 
A  bloody  flag  out,  which  is  our  decree. 


VILLANY  REWARDED  133 

No  quarters  to  give,  no  quarters  to  take  ; 
We  save  nothing  living  :  alas !  'tis  too  late  ; 
For  we  are  now  sworn  by  the  bread  and  the  wine, 
More  serious  we  are  than  any  divine. 

Now  this  is  the  course  I  intend  for  to  steer ; 
My  false-hearted  nation,  to  you  I  declare 
I  have  done  thee  no  wrong,  thou  must  me  forgive  ; 
The  sword  shall  maintain  me  as  long  as  I  live. 


VILLANY  REWARDED ;   OR,   THE  PIRATE'S  LAST 
FARE  WE  L    TO   THE    WORLD; 

Who  was  executed  at  Execution  Dock  on  Wednes- 
day, the  25th  of  November,  1696,  being  of 
Every 's  crew  ;  together  with  their  Free  Con- 
fession of  their  most  Horrid  Crimes. 

To  vhe  Tune  of  Russels  Farewel. 

W..11  may  the  world  against  us  cry  ;  for  these  our  deeds  most 

base, 
For  which,  alas  !  we  now  must  dye,  death  looks  us  in  the  face, 
Which   is   no   more   than  what's  our  due,  since  we  so  wicked 

were, 
As  here  shall  be  declar'd  to  you.     Let  pyrates  then  take  care. 

We  with  our  comrades,  not  yet  ta'en,  together  did  agree, 
And  stole  a  ship  out  from  the  Groyne,  to  roam  upon  the  sea  ; 
With  which  we  robb'd  and  plundered  too,  no  ship  that  we  did 

spare. 
Thus  many  a  one  we  did  undo.     Let  pyrats  then  take  care. 

Our  ship  being  well  stored  then  for  this  our  enterprise, 
One  hundred  and  eighty  men  there  was  in  her  likewise  : 
We  pillag'd  all  we  could  come  nigh,  no  nation  we  did  spare, 
For  which  a  shameful  death  we  dye.     Let  pyrates  then  take  care. 


i34  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

We  robb'd  a  ship  upon  the  seas,  the  Gunszvay  call'd  by  name, 
Which  we  met  near  the  East  Indies,  and  rifled  the  same ; 
In  it  was  gold  and  silver  store,  of  which  all  had  a  share ; 
Each  man  600  pounds  and  more.     Let  pirates  then  take  care. 

Thus  for  some  time  we  liv'd  and  reign'd  as  masters  of  the  sea ; 
Every  merchant  we  detain'd  and  us'd  most  cruelly. 
The  treasures  took,  we  sunk  the  ship,  and  those  that  in  it  were 
That  would  not  unto  us  submit.     Let  pirates  then  take  care. 

Thus  wickedly  we  every  day  liv'd  upon  others'  good, 

The  which,  alas  !  we  must  repay  now  with  our  dearest  blood  ; 

For  we  on  no  one  mercy  took,  nor  any  did  we  spare. 

How  can  we  then  for  mercy  look  ?     Let  pirates  then  take  care. 

We  thus  did  live  most  cruelly,  and  of  no  danger  thought, 
But  we  at  last,  as  you  may  see,  are  unto  justice  brought 
For  outrages  of  villany,  of  which  we  guilty  are, 
And  now  this  very  day  must  dye.     Let  pirates  then  take  care. 

Now  farewel  to  this  wicked  world,  and  our  companions  too ; 
From  hence  we  quickly  shall  be  hurl'd  to  clear  the  way  for  you 
For  certainly  if  e're  you  come  to  justice,  as  we  are, 
Deserved  death  will  be  your  doom.     Then  pirates  all  take  care. 


CAPTAIN  KIUS   FAREWEL    TO    THE    SEAS;    OR, 
THE  FAMOUS  PIRATES  LAMENT. 

To  the  Tune  of  Coming  down. 

My  name  is  Captain  Kid,  who  has  sail'  [who  has  sail'd], 
My  name  is  Captain  Kid,  who  has  sail'd  ; 

My  name  is  Captain  Kid. 

What  the  laws  did  still  forbid 
Unluckily  I  did  while  I  sail'd  [while  I  sailed,  etc.]. 

Upon  the  ocean  wide,  when  I  sail'd,  etc., 
Upon  the  ocean  wide,  when  I  sail'd, 

Upon  the  ocean  wide 

I  robbed  on  every  side, 
-Vith  most  ambitious  pride,  when  I  sail'd. 


CAPTAIN  KIUS  FAREWELL      135 

My  faults  I  will  display  while  I  sajTd,  etc, 
My  faults  I  will  display  while  I  sail  d, 

My  faults  I  will  display, 

Committed  day  by  day 
[A  line  lost.] 

Many  long  leagues  from  shore  when  I  sail'd,  etc., 
Many  ion!  leases  from  shore  when  I  sad  d, 

Many  long  leagues  from  shore 

I  murdered  William  More, 
And  laid  him  in  his  gore,  when  I  sail  d, 

Because  a  word  he  spoke  when  I  sail'd,  etc., 
Because  a  word  he  spoke  when  I  saild, 

Because  a  word  he  spoke  : 

I  with  a  bucket  broke 
His  scull  at  one  sad  stroke,  while  1  saild. 

I  struck  with  a  good  will  when  I  sail'd,  etc., 
I  struck  with  a  good  will  when  I  saild; 

I  struck  with  a  good  will, 
And  did  a  gunner  kill 
As  being  cruel  still  when  I  sail  d. 

A  Quida  merchant  then  while  I  sail'd,  etc., 
A  Quida  merchant  then  while  I  sail  d, 

A  Quida  merchant  then 

I  robbed  of  hundreds  ten, 
Assisted  by  my  men,  while  I  sailed. 

A  banker's  ship  of  France,  while  I  sailed,  etc., 
A  banker's  ship  of  France,  while  I  sailed, 

A  banker's  ship  of  France 

Before  us  did  advance  : 
I  seized  her  by  chance,  while  I  sailed. 

Full  fourteen  ships  I  see  when  I  sailed,  etc., 
Full  fourteen  ships  I  see  when  I  sailed, 

Full  fourteen  ships  I  see, 

Merchants  of  high  degree  ; 
They  were  too  hard  for  me  when  I  sailed. 

We  steered  from  sound  to  sound  while  we  sailed, 
We  steered  from  sound  to  sound  while  we  sailed  , 


136  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

We  steered  from  sound  to  sound, 
A  Moorish  ship  we  found  ; 
Her  men  we  stript  and  bound  while  we  sailed. 

Upon  the  ocean  seas  while  we  sailed,  etc 
Upon  the  ocean  seas  while  we  sailed, 

Upon  the  ocean  seas 

A  warlike  Portuguese 
In  sport  did  us  displease,  while  we  sailed. 

At  famous  Malabar  when  we  sailed,  etc 
At  famous  Malabar  when  we  sailed' 

At  famous  Malabar 

We  went  ashore,  each  tar, 
And  robbed  the  natives  there,  when  we  sailed. 

Then  after  this  we  chased,  while  we  sailed 
lhen  after  this  we  chased,  while  we  sailed, 

l  hen  after  this  we  chased 

A  rich  Armenian,  graced 
With  wealth,  which  we  embraced,  while  we  sailed. 

Many  Moorish  ships  we  took  while  we  sailed 
Many  Moorish  ships  we  took  while  we  sailed  ' 

Many  Moorish  ships  we  took  ; 

We  did  still  for  plunder  look  • 
All  conscience  we  forsook  while' we  sailed. 

I,  Captain  Cullifoord,  while  I  sailed,  etc 
I,  Captain  Cullifoord,  while  I  sailed' 

I,  Captain  Cullifoord, 

Did  many  merchants  board, 
Which  did  much  wealth  afford,  while  we  sailed. 

Two  hundred  bars  of  gold,  while  we  sail'd,  etc 
i  wo  hundred  bars  of  gold,  while  we  sailed 

Two  hundred  bars  of  gold 

And  rix  dollars  manifold 
We  seized  uncontrolled,  while  we  sailed. 

^  John,  a  ship  of  fame,  when  we  sailed,  etc 
M.John,  a  ship  of  fame,  when  we  sailed 

St.  John,  a  ship  of  fame, 

We  plundered  when  she  came. 
With  more  that  I  could  name,  when  we  sailed 


A    SATYR   ON    THE   SEA-OFFICERS  137 

We  taken  was  at  last,  and  must  die,  etc.. 
We  taken  was  at  last,  and  must  die  , 

We  taken  were  at  last, 

\nd  into  prison  cast : 
Now  sentence  being  past,  we  must  die. 

Tho'  we  have  reigned  awhile  we  must  die,  etc., 
Tho'  we  have  reigned  awhile  we  must  die  ; 

Tho'  we  have  reigned  awhile, 

While  fortune  seemed  to  smile, 
Now  on  the  British  Isle  we  must  die. 

Farewel  the  ocean  main,  we  must  die  etc., 
Farewel  the  ocean  main,  we  must  die  , 

Farewel  the  ocean  main  : 

The  coast  of  France  or  Spain 
We  ne'er  shall  see  again  ;  we  must  die. 

From  Newgate  now  in  carts  we  must  go,  etc., 
From  Newgate  now  in  carts  we  must  goe  ;] 

From  Newgate  now  in  carts, 

With  sad  and  heavy  hearts, 
To  have  our  due  deserts  we  must  go. 

Some  thousands  they  will  nock  when  we  die, 
SS°ome  thousands  they  will  flock  when  we  die, 
Some  thousands  they  will  flock 

A  SATYR   ON  THE   ^mCERS^A  LONG 
PROLOGUE   TO  A   SHORT  PLAY, 

Spoken    by    a   woman   at   Oxford,    dress'd   like   a 

sea-officer. 

By  Sir  H.  S. 

With  Monmouth  cap,  and  cutlace  by  my  side, 
Striding  at  least  a  yard  at  every  stride, 
Fn  come  to  tell  you,  after  much  petition, 
The  Admiralty  his  given  me  a  commission  : 


138  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

And  now  with  Bully  Tourville  I'll  ingage, 
And  try  my  fortune  on  a  floating  stage. 
What  blustring  tarr  at  this  dares  take  offence. 
While  I  stand  thus  to  prove  my  just  pretence  ? 
Will  he  pretend  to  fight  better  than  I  ? 
Ad's  death  I'd  tell  him,  '  Damn  you,  sir,  you  lye,' 
And  then  I'd  ask  him  how  they  fought  at  Rye. 
Your  Bantry  business  too  was  but  a  fetch, 
Where  you  call'd  running,  battering  at  a  stretch  ; 
But  you'll  reply  your  leaders  were  to  blame, 
While  I  condemn  you  all  to  bear  the  shame. 
For  who  the  Divel  eer  refus'd  his  meat 
Because  another  had  no  mind  to  eat  ? 
The  Dutch  were  drunk,  you  barbarously  say. 
Pray,  next,  do  you  be  drunk  too,  so  you  stay, 
For  'twas  your  sober  fighting  lost  the  day. 
Old  Albemarle  wou'd  say  that  men  of  war 
In  navy  stunk  not  half  enough  of  tarr. 
Your  o'ergrown  pages  and  attorney's  clerks 
To  fight  and  govern  fleets  are  proper  sparks. 
Then  let  the  spruce  land-pirats  be  content 
To  swagger  in  their  native  element, 
And  let  tarpawlings  rule  by  my  consent  : 
For  things  now  look  as  if  men  took  commission 
To  damn  all  discipline  and  sow  sedition, 
And  fighting  was  the  least  of  their  ambition  ; 
No  matter  who  comes  home  with  broken  bones, 
So  you  but  come  to  touch  the  patacoons. 
The  pitch  of  honour  is  desire  of  money  ; 
That  paltry,  coward  vice  has  quite  undone  ye. 
You  court  preferment  on  no  other  score 
But  to  be  poorly  rich,  or  basely  poor  : 
For  who  would  not  propose  a  trip  to  Spain 
That  has  within  his  prospect  double  gain, 
To  line  his  pockets,  and  to  save  his  skin  ? 
For  none  must  fight  with  merchants'  money  in. 
Your  heads  run  round  with  Mexico  and  Sevil ; 
I  wish  this  shipping  plate  was  at  the  Devil. 
Wou'd  the  good  King  had  but  a  just  relation, 
What  infamy,  what  sums  't  has  cost  the  nation  ! 
He'd  quickly  damn  your  trade  of  importation, 
And  add  it  to  the  Act  of  Navigation. 
'  But  how  then  shall  we  live  ? '  ye  murm'rers  say. 
'S  life  !  can't  you  be  content  with  double  pay  ? 
Shew  us  your  twofold  merit,  sirs,  I  pray. 


.,7    tup    SEA-OFFICERS  139 

A    SATYR   ON    THE   W 

So-  has  got  two  *££*  l^ft^ 

While  one  might  safely  : swear,  m  g  red  fa 

They're  neither  flesh  n«r  Ash  g.^  a  munau, 

Those  are  your  collneis, c  v  . 

Boldly  to  those  mo^ente^p^ 

But  at  an  awful  distance^        y       ^ 

T-^r:^  - 

Sow  you  imploy  the  J^gJ*  ^  Bedford  Street. 

While  you  date ,  frorr .the Do    ^  ^  ^ 
But  times  are  alter  d  ,  us  the  men 

For  now  you  P^^^Lch  secrets  found 
Those  plain,  dull  felloes  n  hundred  pound. 

To  make  press  war  an     *f* 
It  is  our  fate,  ■ our     ^  °h  ^  _ 

To  trust  our  ^on,0"i"ir  principles  not  right 
Raw  in  their  trade,  their  pn n    P  ^  ^ 

Wlth  hearts  too  tender,  and  tQ  fi  ht 

Too  weak  for  counc  1, ^  and .to  ^ 

Their  bodies  ar    not  made         u  r00f  ; 

Their  era  ^^^1  sailor's  tale 

sir,  by  your  leave,  do  yon^n.^  ^  mg 
And  then  kick  down  the  i  ^non, 

The  Parliament  niayP^e  the  nation 

But  till  ^^^  seas  his  station. 
Monsieur  will  make  iu  ancient  rule, 

Then  ^hat  becomes  of  aU  our  a     ^  ^  Thule? 

Our  right  from  Edg^and  c^ 

^flafa  dSciout,  and  your  d«  aj-  name 

The  hardy  duke  we  ^n0f^^5ounding  fame, 

Stretch'd  the  blown  cheeks  o  f  ^^  do  . 

Once  boldly  try'd  wh^  ^«        pursue? 

But  such  examples  who  dare  no     P       in,dj 

A  four  dales'  fight  .^  Blor^onour  gain'd ; 

And  what  he  lost  in  blood  in  jrfd 

To  keep  that  spotless  Jc  theoce         gun  to  sun, 

Each  day  he  tack  d,  and  tou 

Against  the  odds  at  «  *»**       ^  don£? 

Had  ye  been  there,  sirs,  ** 


i4o  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

He  ne'er  stood — 'Shall  I,  shall  I  keep  a  loof?'- 
But  fought  as  if  his  skin  was  cannon-proof; 
Then  all  that  can  be  said  to  do  you  right, 
You'll  keep  a  wind  as  long  as  he  did  fight. 


THE  SEA-MARTYRS;  OR,  THE  SEAMEN'S  SAD 
LAMENTATION  FOR  THEIR  FAITHFUL 
SERVICE,  BAD  PAY,   AND    CRUEL    USAGE; 

Being  a  woful  relation  how  some  of  them  were 
unmercifully  put  to  death  for  pressing  for  their 
pay,  when  their  families  were  like  to  starve. 

Thus  our  new  Government  does  subjects  serve, 
And  leaves  them  this  sad  choice  :  to  hang  or  starve. 

To  the  Tune  of  Banstead  Downs. 

Good  people,  do  but  lend  an  ear, 
And  a  sad  story  you  shall  hear — 
A  sadder  you  never  heard— 
Of  due  desert  and  base  reward, 

Which  will  our  English  subjects  fright 

For  our  new  Government  to  fight. 

Our  seamen  are.  the  onely  men 
That  o'er  the  French  did  vict'ry  gain  ; 
They  kept  the  foe  from  landing  here, 
Which  would  have  cost  the  Court  full  dear ; 

And  when  they  for  their  pay  did  hope 

They  were  rewarded  with  a  rope. 

The  roaring  canon  they  ne'er  fear'd, 

Their  lives  and  bloud  they  never  spar'd  ; 

Through  fire  and  flame  their  courage  flew, 

No  bullets  could  their  hearts  subdue. 
Had  they  in  fight  but  flincht  at  all 
King  James  had  now  been  in  Whitehall. 


THE   SEA-MARTYRS  141 

Thus  England,  and  our  new  King  too, 
Their  safety  to  their  valour  owe ; 
Nay,  some  did  'gainst  their  conscience  fight 
To  do  some  great  ones  too  much  right  j 

And  now,  oh,  barbarous  tyranny  ! 

Like  men  they  fought,  like  dogs  they  dye. 

Thousands  of  them  their  lives  did  lose 
In  fighting  stoutly  with  their  foes, 
And  thousands  were  so  maim'd  in  fight 
That  'twas  a  sad  and  piteous  sight ; 

And  when  they  hop'd  their  pay  to  gain 

They  have  their  labour  for  their  pain. 

Their  starving  families  at  home 
Expected  their  slow  pay  would  come ; 
But  our  proud  Court  meant  no  such  thing, 
Not  one  groat  must  they  have  till  spring ; 

To  starve  all  summer  would  not  do, 

They  must  still  starve  all  winter  too. 

It  might  a  little  ease  their  grief, 
And  give  their  mis'ry  some  relief, 
Might  they  in  trade  ships  outward  go, 
But  that  poor  boon's  denied  them  too, 

Which  is  as  much  as  plain  to  say, 

You  shall  earn  nothing,  nor  have  pay. 

Their  poor  wives  with  care  languished, 
Their  children  cried  for  want  of  bread, 
Their  debts  encreast,  and  none  would  more 
Lend  them,  or  let  them  run  o'th'  score. 

In  such  a  case  what  could  they  doe 

But  ask  those  who  money  did  owe  ? 

Therefore  some,  bolder  than  the  rest, 
The  officers  for  their  own  request ; 
They  call'd  'em  rogues,  and  said  nothing 
Was  due  to  them  untill  the  spring : 

The  King  had  none  for  them,  they  said 

Their  betters,  they  must  first  be  paid. 

The  honest  seamen  then  replied 
They  could  no  longer  want  abide, 
And  that  nine  hundred  thousand  pound 
Was  giv'n  last  year  to  pay  them  round  : 


142  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Their  money  they  had  earnt  full  dear 
And  could  not  stay  another  half-year. 

A  council  then  they  streight  did  call 
Of  pick-thanks  made  to  please  Whitehall, 
And  there  they  were  adjudg'd  to  dye  ; 
But  no  man  knows  wherefore,  nor  why. 
What  times  are  these  !     Was't  ever  known 
'Twas  death  for  men  to  ask  their  own  ? 

Yet  some  seem'd  milder  than  the  rest, 
And  told  them  that,  their  fault  confest, 
And  pardon  askt  and  humbly  crav'd, 
Their  lives  perhaps  might  then  be  sav'd  ; 
But  they  their  cause  scorn'd  to  betray 
Or  own't  a  crime  to  ask  their  pay. 

Thus  they  the  seamen's  martyrs  dyed, 
And  would  not  yield  to  unjust  pride; 
Their  lives  they  rather  would  lay  down 
Than  yield  it  sin  to  ask  their  own. 

Thus  they  for  justice  spent  their  blood 
To  do  all  future  seamen  good. 

Wherefore  let  seamen  all  and  some 
Keep  the  days  of  their  martyrdom, 
And  bear  in  mind  these  dismal  times, 
When  true  men  suffer  for  false  crimes  ; 
England  ne'er  knew  the  like  till  now, 
Nor  e'er  again  the  like  will  know. 

But  now  suppose  they  had  done  ill, 
In  asking  pay  too  roughly,  still 
When  'twas  their  due  and  need  so  prest, 
They  might  have  pardon  found  at  least ; 

The  King  and  Queen  some  mercifull  call, 

But  seamen  find  it  not  at  all. 

To  robbers,  thieves,  and  felons  they 
Freely  grant  pardons  ev'ry  day  ; 
Only  poor  seamen,  who  alone 
Do  keep  them  on  their  father's  throne, 
Must  have  at  all  no  mercy  shown  : 
Nay,  tho'  there  wants  fault,  they'l  find  one. 


ADVICE    TO    YOUNG  MAIDENS 

Where  is  the  subjecls' liberty 

And  eke  '^"JS-fe  like  slaves, 
Were  forc'd  to  fight  to r  nou     ^  ^^ 

And  though  jve :  *^r^=d s  „avs  : 

7^V  lonr°ds,  n«°aws/  8*  proverb  says. 

Besides  the  seamen's  pay,  that's  spent,  ^ 
^%^^eS°     'Uonfat  the  .east, 

a  d  ertv  Tear  his  debt's  encreast ; 

AnSoAa.lxmay  despair  that  we 
One  quarter  of  our  pay  shall  see. 

Foreigners  and  """""ft  estates  ; 
SrEnTandEtoruinerun 
^nd  Englishmen  must  be  undone^ 
K  to  trade  last  but  one  ha  fi  y  ear 
Our  wealth  and  strength  is  spent, 

r„A  Mess  our  noble  Parliament, 
God  bless  oui  i  government, 

And  give  them  the  »hoteg       than  ever. 

DC ^  take8  the  helm,  and  better  s«>. 


■  43 


ADMCh    iu       ^  HUsBANDS. 

To  the  Tune  of  In  the  merry  month  of  June. 

■a    „f  Preenwich,  of  high  and  low  degree, 
You  pretty  maids  of  Green*,CIT\ n  th?t  e0  to  sea  ; 
Pray  never  fix  your  fancys  on     e"  *™g°n  at  the  very  best, 

Si-^.ttaS^^r- take  but  UtUe 

For,  in  my  mind,  in  stormy 


r44  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

Besides  the  many  dangers  that  are  upon  the  seas, 

When  they  are   on  the  shore  they  will  ramble  where  they  please  ; 

For  up  and  down   in  sea-port   town   they   court  both  old   and 

young  : 
They  will  deceive  ;  do  not  believe  the  sailor's  flattering  tongue. 

I  give  you  this  advice  now,  as  you  may  understand, 

It  being  at  the  time  when  seamen  come  to  land, 

For  up  and  down  in  Greenwich  town  the  seamen  they  do  trade, 

And  he  doth  boast  that  spends  the  most ;  oh  !  he's  a  jolly  blade. 

They  likewise  treat  their  sweet-hearts  when  they  are  on  the  shore, 
But  when  they  are  gone  perhaps  you  may  never  see  them  more ; 
To-day  they  wed,  at  night  they  bed,  to-morrow  go  to  sea  : 
Therefore  I  say,  as  well  I  may,  a  landman  still  for  me. 

The  seamen  they  are  gone  to  sea,  and  leave  there  wives  at  home, 
To  take  what  care  they  can  ;  for  there  parts  they'l  take  none ; 
They  tell  their  friends  they  do  depend  upon  their  husbands'  pay, 
And  run  in  debt,  while  they  expect  their  money  every  day. 

Suppose  you  have  a  sailor,  that  sails  before  the  mast  ; 

If  he's  the  best  of  husbands  his  breath  is  but  a  blast : 

The  roaring  waves  their  wills  will  have — there's  no  man  can  with- 
stand— 

And  he  may  sleep  in  the  ocean  deep  whilst  you  are  on  the 
land. 


Suppose  you  have  a  captain,  a  person  of  great  fame  ; 
Yet  still  there  is  great  danger  in  sailing  on  the  main. 
The  fates  unkind  in  stormy  wind  may  lay  his  honour  low, 
And  then  his  wife,  with  careful  life,  laments  his  overthrow. 

Give  me  an  honest  tradesman,  of  high  or  low  degree  ; 
I'll  never  fix  my  fancy  on  a  man  that  goes  to  sea. 
A  tradesman's  wife's  a  happy  life,  if  he's  an  honest  man  : 
He'll  take  a  share  in  all  the  care  ;  deny  it  if  you  can. 


SEAMEN'S    WIVES    VINDICATED  145 


THE  SEAMEN'S    WIVES'    VINDICATION ,    OR,   AN 
ANSWER      TO      THE     PRETENDED     FRO  LICK 
WHICH   WAS    SAID     TO    BE    BY  THEM  OVER 
A   BOWL    OF  PUNCH 

You  writ  that  we  drank  liquor  free,  but  for  your  writing  so 

You  are  to  blame — nay,  blush  for  shame — since  it  was  nothing  so. 

To  the  Tune  of  0  so  ungrateful  a  creature. 

Why  does  the  poets  abuse  us,  we  that  are  seamen's  poor  wives  ? 
Have  they  not  cause  to  excuse  us,  knowing  our  sorrowful  lives  ? 
We  are,  alas  !  broken-hearted,  as  we  can  very  well  prove, 
When  from  our  joys  we  are  parted,  those  loyal  husbands  we  love. 

You  that  declare  we  are  jolly  do  but  abuse  us,  we  find, 
For  we  are  most  melancholly,  always  tormented  in  mind  : 
While  that  our  husbands  are  sailing  on  the  tempestuous  seas 
Here  we  are  sighing,  bewailing  ;  nothing  affordeth  us  ease. 

Here  you  have  newly  reported  that  we  are  girls  of  the  game, 
Who  do  delight  to  be  courted.     Are  you  not  highly  to  blame. 
Saying  we  often  are  merry,  punch  is  the  liquor  we  praise, 
Though  we  are  known  to  be  weary  of  these  our  sorrowful  days  ? 

How  could  you  say  there  was  many  wives  that  did  drink,  rant,  and 

sing, 
When  I  protest  there's  not  any  of  us  that  practice  this  thing  ? 
Are  we  not  forced  to  borrow,  being  left  here  without  chink  ? 
'Tis  in  a  cup  of  cold  sorrow  if  we  so  often  do  drink. 

Tho'  we  have  little  to  nourish  us  while  our  husbands  are  there, 
Merchants   in    London   they  flourish   through  their  industrious 

care. 
They  are  the  stay  of  the  nation,  men  of  undaunted  renown  ; 
Why  should  a  false   accusation    run   the   poor   seamen's   wives 

down, 

Saying  we  swallow'd  our  liquor  with  a  great  gossipping  crew, 
Making  our  tongues  to  run  quicker  then  they  had  reason  to  do  ? 
Thus  they  would  blast  all  our  glory  by  the  soft  wits  of  their 

brains. 
He  that  invented  that  story  was  but  a  fool  for  his  pains. 

L 


146  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

We  are  so  far  from  such  pleasure,  making  of  jolly  punch-bowls, 

That  we  lament  out  of  measure,  every  woman  condoles  ; 

When   she  in  bed  should  lye  sleeping,  if  the  high  winds  they  do 

roar, 
There  she  in  sorrow  is  weeping,  fearing  to  see  him  no  more. 

They  are  to  dangers  exposed,  as  we  may  very  well  guess. 
How  can  our  eye-lids  be  closed  in  such  a  time  of  distress  ? 
You  that  are  free  from  that  [terror],  having  your  husbands  secure, 
Little  consider  the  horror  that  we  do  dayly  endure. 

Tho'  there  is  joy  in  our  meeting  when  they  come  safe  from  the 

main, 
Yet  'tis  a  sorrowful  greeting  when  we  are  parted  again  : 
Landmen  in  a  full  fruition  feeds  on  the  fat  of  the  land ; 
This  is  a  happy  condition,  having  all  things  at  command. 

Tho'  we  have  not  such  a  plenty,  yet  I  can  very  well  prove 
That  there  is  not  one  in  twenty  but  who  her  husband  doth  love  : 
You  that  have  caus'd  those  distractions,  writing  a  story  not  true, 
May  be  asham'd  of  your  actions,  and  thus  I  bid  you  adieu. 


BILLY  THE  MIDSHIPMAN'S    WELCOME    HOME. 
To  the  Tune  of  Ianthe,  etc. 

Molly. 

You're  welcome,  my  Billy,  to  the  English  shore  ; 
I  hope  you'll  not  cross  the  rough  seas  any  more. 
Many  a  day  too,  and  many  a  night, 
My  heart  grieved  sore  'cause  you  were  out  of  sight ; 
But  now,  to  my  comfort,  I  see  you  again. 
Oh,  never,  dear  Billy,  Oh,  never,  dear  Billy, 
Sail  more  on  the  main. 

Billy. 

Dear  Molly,  said  Billy,  the  joy  of  my  heart, 
Daily  I  thought  of  you  since  we  did  part ; 


THE  MIDSHIPMAN'S    WELCOME    147 

And  when  the  roaring  waves  mounting  high  they  did  move, 
In  the  greatest  danger  I  thought  on  my  love. 
The  billows  did  foam,  and  the  rocks  they  were  nigh, 
Yet  nothing  but  death,  yet  nothing  but  death 
Shall  my  love  part  and  I. 

Molly. 

I  thank  thee,  my  dear,  for  thy  firm  love  to  me 
In  the  midst  of  thy  dangers  upon  the  rough  sea  ; 
Each  night  in  my  bed  still  as  down  I  was  lain 
I  dreamed  of  shipwracks  upon  the  salt  main  ; 
But  now  I  do  find  from  these  dangers  I'm  free, 
Since  him  that  I  love,  since  him  that  I  love 
Is  come  safe  unto  me. 


Billy. 

Indeed,  my  dear  Molly,  the  Powers  above 
Preserv'd  me  from  dangers  for  thy  tender  love, 
For  I  have  been  where  thundering  cannons  did  roar, 
Their  bullets  like  footballs  flying  from  the  shoar  ; 
The  danger  of  tempest  and  cannon  balls  too 
I  have  undergone,  I  have  undergone 
For  the  sake,  love,  of  you. 


Molly. 

My  dearest,  it's  true,  for  the  fault  is  in  me, 
For  thou  wouldst  have  wed,  but  I  said,  'Go  to  sea.' 
But  when  thou  wert  gone  how  my  heart  was  opprest ! 
I  scarce  had  a  minute  of  pleasure  and  rest, 
For  by  day  all  my  fear  was  of  danger  to  thee, 
And  by  night  I  did  dream,  and  by  night  I  did  dream 
Still  of  storms  on  the  sea. 


Billy. 

My  dear,  thou  dreamst  right,  for  e're  we  got  home 
For  several  days  we  had  storm  after  storm. 
We  lost  all  our  masts  and  our  tackle  to  boot, 
In  tempestuous  nights  on  the  ocean  did  float. 
But,  thanks  unto  Heaven,  we  had  no  men  lost, 
And  the  brave  Royal  Sov'rain,  the  brave  Royal  Sov'rain 
Come  safe  to  our  coast. 

l  2 


148  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 


Molly. 

Oh  my  dear  precious,  my  Billy,  my  joy, 
There's  nothing  my  happiness  now  can  destroy  ; 
For  since  thou  art  [safe]  from  all  cannon  and  storms 
Thy  person  to  me  has  a  million  of  charms. 
Oh,  stay  then  on  shore  ;  never  venture  again 
Upon  the  rough  seas,  upon  the  rough  seas, 
But  with  me,  love,  remain. 

Billy. 

Thy  love  unto  me  now  is  dearer  than  life, 
And  happie  am  I  since  thou  wilt  be  my  wife, 
And  while  I'm  on  shore  still  with  thee  I  will  stay, 
Imbracing  thy  charms,  love,  by  night  and  by  day, 
Till  our  admiral  doth  sail  with  the  fleet  on  the  main  ; 
Yet  kind  Providence,  I  hope,  yet  kind  Providence,  I  hope, 
Brings  me  safe  back  again. 


ADMIRAL    BENBOW. 

Oh,  we  sail'd  to  Virginia,  and  thence  to  Fayal, 
Where  we  water'd  our  shipping,  and  then  we  weigh'd  all. 
Full  in  view  on  the  seas,  boys,  seven  sails  we  did  espy  ; 
Oh,  we  manned  our  capstan  and  weigh'd  speedily. 

The  first  we  came  up  with  was  a  brigantine  sloop, 
And  we  ask'd  if  the  others  were  as  big  as  they  look'd  ; 
But  turning  to  windward  as  near  as  we  could  lie, 
We  found  there  were  ten  men-of-war  cruizing  by. 

Oh  !   we  drew  up  our  squadron  in  very  nice  line, 
And  boldly  we  fought  them  for  full  four  hours'  time ; 
But  the  day  being  spent,  boys,  and  the  night  coming  on, 
We  let  them  alone  till  the  very  next  morn. 

The  very  next  morn  the  engagement  prov'd  hot, 
And  brave  Admiral  Benbow  receiv'd  a  chain  shot ; 
And  when  he  was  wounded  to  his  merry  men  he  did  say, 
'  Take  me  up  in  your  arms,  boys,  and  carry  me  away.' 


DEATH   OF  ADMIRAL    HEN  BOW   149 

Oh  !  the  guns  they  did  rattle,  and  the  bullets  did  fly, 
But  Admiral  Benbow  for  help  would  not  cry. 
'  Take  me  down  to  the  cockpit ;  there  is  ease  for  my  smarts. 
If  my  merry  men  see  me  it  will  sure  break  their  hearts.' 

Our  brave  Captain  Crosbie  proved  coward  at  last. 

For  he  stood  at  bo-peep  behind  the  main  mast ; 

He  stood  at  bo-peep  and  did  quiver  and  shake 

For  fear  that  those  French  dogs  his  dear  life  should  tak< . 

The  very  next  morning,  by  break  of  the  day, 

They  hoisted  their  top  sails  and  so  bore  away  ; 

We  bore  to  Port  Royal,  where  the  people  flocked  much 

To  see  Admiral  Benbow  carried  to  Kingston  Church. 

Come,  all  you  brave  fellows,  wherever  you've  been, 
Let  us  drink  to  the  health  of  our  King  and  our  Queen  : 
And  another  good  health  to  the  girls  that  we  know, 
And  a  third  in  remembrance  of  brave  Admiral  Benbow. 


THE   DEATH    OF  ADMIRAL   BENBOW. 

Come,  all  ye  seamen  bold,  lend  an  ear,  lend  an  ear. 
Come,  all  ye  seamen  bold,  lend  an  ear  : 
lis  of  our  admiral's  fame, 
Brave  Benbow  called  by  name, 

How  he  fought  on  the  main  you  shall  hear,  you  shall  hear. 

How  he  fought  on  the  main  you  shall  hear. 

Brave  Benbow  he  set  sail  for  to  fight,  for  to  fight, 
Brave  Benbow  he  set  sail  for  to  fight  ; 
Brave  Benbow  he  set  sail 
With  a  sweet  and  pleasant  gale  ; 

But  his  captains  they  turned  tail  in  a  fright,  in  a  fright. 

But  his  captains,  etc. 

Says  Kirby  unto  Wade,  '  I  will  run,  I  will  run,' 

Says  Kirby  unto  Wade,  '  I  will  run. 

I  value  not  disgrace, 

Nor  the  losing  of  my  place  ; 

For  my  enemies  I'll  not  face  with  a  gun,  with  a  gun. 

For  my  enemies ,'  etc. 


150  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Twas  the  Ruby  and  JVbah's  Ark  fought  the  French,  fought  the 

French, 
'Twas  the  Ruby  and  Noah's  Ark  fought  the  French  ; 
For  there  was  ten  in  all, 
Poor  souls,  they  fought  them  all ; 

They  valued  them  not  at  all,  would  not  flinch,  would  not 
flinch, 

They  valued  them,  etc. 

Hard  fortune  that  it  was,  by  chain  shot,  by  chain  shot, 
Hard  fortune  that  it  was,  by  chain  shot, 
Our  admiral  lost  his  leg, 
And  of  his  men  did  beg, 

'  Fight  on,  my  British  boys  ;  'tis  my  lot,  'tis  my  lot ; 

Fight  on,'  etc. 

While  the  surgeon  dressed  his  wounds  thus  he  said,  thus  he  said, 
While  the  surgeon  dressed  his  wounds  thus  he  said  : 
'  Let  my  cradle  now  in  haste 
On  the  quarter-deck  be  placed, 

That  mine  enemies  I  may  face  till  I'm  dead,  till  I'm  dead, 

That  mine  enemies,'  etc. 

And  there  bold  Benbow  lay,  crying,  '  Boys,'  crying,  '  Boys,' 
And  there  bold  Benbow  lay,  crying,  '  Boys,' 
'  Let  us  tack  about  once  more ; 
We'll  drive  them  all  on  shore  : 

I  value  not  a  score,  nor  their  noise,  nor  their  noise, 

/  value  not  a  score'  etc. 

[Unsupported  thus  he  fought,  nor  would  run,  nor  would  run, 
Unsupported  thus  he  fought,  nor  would  run 
Till  his  ship  was  a  mere  wreck, 
And  no  man  would  him  back, 

For  the  others  would  not  slack  to  fire  a  gun,  fire  a  gun, 

For  the  others,  etc. 

For  Jamaica  then  at  last  he  set  sail,  he  set  sail, 
For  Jamaica  then  at  last  he  set  sail, 
Where  Wentworth  he  did  try, 
And  those  cowards  that  did  fly 

And  from  the  French  in  fright  turned  tail,  turned  tail, 

And  from  the  French,  etc. 


THE  ACTION  AT    VIGO  151 

And  those  found  most  to  blame,  they  were  shot,  they  wen-  shot, 
And  those  found  most  to  blame,  they  were  shot  ; 
Brave  Benbow  then  at  last, 
For  grief  of  what  was  past, 

In  a  fever  died  at  last,  by  hard  lot,  by  hard  lot, 

In  a  fever,  etc.] 


THE  SAILORS  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  ACTION  AT 

VIGO. 

Muse  will  have  her  song  ;  hark  !  she  merrily  sings, 
The  praise  of  a  Queen  that  has  beaten  two  Kings  : 
Of  Ormond  and  Rook  too,  and  how  they  fell  on, 
And  flat  as  a  flounder  laid  Monsieur  and  Don. 
Bright  Eugene  and  Marlborough  shou'd  live  in  our  rime, 
And  other  brave  heroes  too,  had  we  but  time  : 
But  heroes  excuse  us,  for  now  Muse  and  I  go, 
To  raise  to  the  stars  the  dead-doers  at  Vigo. 

You  Monsieur s  and  Dons,  if  with  losses  you  meet, 
Yet  don't  be  discourag'd,  we'll  pay  off  your  fleet. 

Cries  a  hawk  from  the  wing,  the  eagle-ey'd  Hardy, 
Game  !  game  !  royal  game  !  we  shall  take  'em  all  tardy  : 
In  Vigo  they  ride,  men  of  war,  galleons, 
The  might  of  the  Monsieurs  and  pride  of  the  Dons  : 
Lead  on,  great  commander,  sink,  burn,  take  the  Plate ; 
'Twill  all  be  our  own,  if  we  don't  come  too  late. 
We'll  brisk  up  old  England  with  fame  and  with  plunder  : 
We'll  win't,  tho'  we  charge  thoro'  lightning  and  thunder. 
You  Monsieurs  and  Dons,  if  with  losses  you  meet, 
Yet  don't  be  discourag'd,  we'll  pay  off  your  fleet. 

Sir  George  sends  the  news  to  the  stout  Hogen  Mogen, 
Then  squadrons  we  join  without  any  proroguing  : 
Soon  Vigo  we  reach,  where  a  deodand  cloak, 
A  cloke  sent  from  heaven,  wraps  us  and  our  oak. 
Unseen  we  consult,  and  resolve  to  break  in, 
But  not  with  our  first  rates,  least  the  brine  be  too  thin  : 
On  the  thirds  high  in  view,  are  the  first  rate  commanders, 
This  rums  the  brisk  seamen,  and  brandys  the  landers : 
You  Monsieurs  and  Dons,  if  with  losses  you  meet, 
Yet  don't  be  discourag'd,  we'll  pay  off  your  fleet. 


152  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

My  dear  Baladina,  let's  stop  and  take  breath  : 
One  glass  and  no  more  then  ;  for  halting  is  death. 
Here's  a  health  to  the  Queen.     I'll  pledg't ;  one  had  said, 
Sir,  speech  up  your  men  that  they  may'nt  be  afraid. 
Afraid  ?  And  a  speech  ?  says  a  sailor  there  by, 
Sir,  you  slander  the  fleet,  and  your  country  bely. 
Let  cowards  be  speecht,  that  spur  is  here  vain  ; 
The  English  need  rather  the  curb  and  the  rein. 

You  Monsieurs  and  Dons,  if  with  losses  you  meet, 
Yet  don't  be  discourag'd,  we'll  pay  off  your  fleet. 


The  Second  Pari. 

Great  Ormond  first  lands  with  his  jolly  marines, 

Then  fit  to  serve  Anna  the  greatest  of  Queens  : 

In  order  they  march,  two  thousand  and  all, 

All  handsom  young  men,  all  lusty  and  tall. 

Of  the  Dons  and  their  guns  they  do  but  make  sport, 

Defy  their  whole  army,  and  ravish  their  fort : 

They  had  blockt  up  their  port  with  mast,  cable,  and  chain, 

But  Hobson  soon  taught  'em  'twas  labour  in  vain. 

You  Monsieurs  and  Dons,  if  with  losses  you  meet, 
Yet  don't  be  discourag'd,  we'll  pay  off  your  fleet. 

Your  boom  is  now  cut,  and  your  fort  is  now  taken, 

And  now,  rogues,  where  are  you?     Now  where  is  your  bacon  ? 

Your  Shaterino,  we  shall  make  him  to  skip  ; 

But,  scorning  to  yield  her,  he  burns  his  tall  ship  : 

'Twas  a  forest  alone,  'twas  a  new  Rising  Sun, 

But  alas  !  this  must  set,  as  the  former  had  done. 

Surviving  confounders  against  us  still  roar, 

Excuse  them  this  once  and  they'll  do  so  no  more. 

You  Monsieurs  and  Dons,  tho'  with  losses  you  meet, 
Yet  dont  be  dismay 'd,  we  have  paid  off  your  fleet. 

Now  after  work,  wages,  we'll  laugh  and  relate, 

O,  what  a  rich  cordial  is  plunder  and  plate ! 

Both  Monsieurs  and  Dons  had  been  many  moons  rigging 

And  thousands  of  hands  many  years  had  been  digging  : 

But  (O,  'tis  to  them  a  sad  tale  to  be  told  ! ) 

For  us  'twas  they  rigg'd,  and  digg'd  silver  and  gold. 

The  dreadful  now  quake,  and  the  poor  galleons 

Surrender  rich  cargo  to  tars  and  dragoons. 

But  what  is't  to  us  if  with  losses  they  meet? 

If  we  had  their  money,  we  paid  off  their  fleet. 


ROOK  AND    TOULOUSL  15; 

O,  Britain,  be  thankful  foi   .uch  a  good  Queen  ! 
The  like  since  great  El'zabeth  never  was  seen  : 
Be  thankful  for  statesmen  who  don't  rob  and  starve  us ; 
For  sea  and  land  worthies  that  fight  to  preserve  us  : 
Be  thankful  for  Ormond,  the  Churchills,  and  Rook  ; 
But  yet,  let  me  tell  you,  God  never  will  brook 
Your  cursing  and  swearing,  your  lying  and  cheating  : 
These  winds  are  contrary,  they'll  hinder  defeating. 
Let  Lewis  repent  too  ;  for  what  can  he  gain, 
Who  looses  his  soul  for  t/ie  kingdoms  of  Spain. 


ON  THE   SEA   FLGHT  BETWEEN  SLR   G.  R.   AND 

TOULOUSE,    1704. 

Who  does  not  extol  our  conquest  marine  ? 

Courage  and  conduct,  Rook  and  Tolouse, 
'Twas  the  sharpest  engagement  that  ever  was  seen.1 

Courage,  etc. 
An  action  so  glorious  was  never  yet  known, 

Courage,  etc., 
Where  no  ship  was  taken,  and  no  trophy  won. 

Courage,  etc. 
'Tis  plain  that  the  French  by  Sir  George  were  out-shot. 

Courage,  etc. 
They  only  th'  advantage,  we  victory  got. 

Courage,  etc. 
Their  fleet  a  whole  day  we  did  terribly  maul, 

Courage,  etc., 
And  pursued  them  two  more  without  pouder  or  ball. 

Courage,  etc. 
The  flag-man  that  madly  the  close  fight  began, 

Courage,  etc., 
Had  lost  all  his  squadron  and  not  sav'd  a  man, 

Courage,  etc., 
Had  not  the  cool  admiral,  to  prudence  incliivd, 

Courage,  etc., 
The  distance  maintain'd  in  spight  of  the  wind. 

Courage,  etc. 


i54  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

We  conquer'd  the  French,  but  had  they  been  beat, 

Courage,  etc., 
Our  conquest,  tho'  glorious,  had  been  more  compleat 

Courage,  etc. 
If  our  hero  aboard  no  laurels  has  got, 

Courage,  etc., 
Yet  he  triumphs  at  home  and  is  victor  by  vote. 

Courage,  etc. 


A   SONG    ON  THE  SAME. 

As  brave  Sir  Rooke  Tholouse  did  beat, 

So  brave  Tholouse  beat  him  ; 
But  whensoe'er  they  meet  again 

George  will  his  jacquet  trim. 
They  both  did  fight,  they  both  did  beat, 

They  both  did  run  away  ; 
They  both  did  strive  to  meet  again 

The  quite  contrary  way. 


THE   SAILOR'S   TRAGEDY;    OR,    THE  LAST 
FAREWEL   OF  CAPTAIN  SMITH. 

To  the  Tune  of  Sail  before  the  mast. 

I  am  in  a  consternation  at  my  now  approaching  death ; 

It's  my  woful  lamentation  e're  I  do  resign  my  breath 

I  shall  write  this  fatal  morning,  which  I  mean  to  leave  behind. 

Let  my  ruine  be  a  warning  evermore  to  all  mankind. 

Often  have  I  sail'd  the  ocean,  with  a  proud,  aspiring  heart, 
Aiming  still  at  high  promotion,  far  above  my  due  desert. 
Having  lost  my  first  commission,  I  cou'd  not  be  satisfy'd 
Till  the  steps  of  grand  ambition  led  me  to  the  fall  of  pride. 


THE i  SAILORS    TRAGEDY         155 

Wholesome  laws  and  hi««or<  reason  could  not  guide  nor  g< 

me : 
Therefore  did  I  practice  treason — nay,  unto  a  high  degree. 
In  the  Nightingale  I  sailed,  and  oppos'd  our  gracious  Queen  ; 
Law  has  over  me  prevailed;  justice  now  steps  in  between 

Me  and  all  those  flights  of  honour  which  I  eagerly  persu'd, 
Fighting    under    the    French    banner  ;     but    this   day    L    must 

conclude 
My  sad  life,  with  tears  of  sorrow,  which  I  in  abundance  shed. 
I  can   bid  my  griefs  good  morrow,   but  my  joys  are  from  me 

fled. 

I  ad  I  been  but  true  and  loyal  to  her  present  Majestie, 

Then  I  had  never  stood  the  tryal  or  by  lawes  been  doom'd  to 

dye; 
But  I  suffer  as  a  traytor  'gainst  the  Queen  and  Government ; 
Sure  there  cannot  be  a  greater  grief  to  make  the  heart  relent. 

O,  that  ship  which  I  purloined  was  the  Nightingale  by  name, 
In  the  which  I  once  designed  to  have  purchas'd  lasting  fame  : 
But  by  chance  she  was  retaken,  for  indeed  we  could  not  fly. 
Now  of  friends  I  am  forsaken,  since  my  death  is  drawing  nigh. 

When  I  pass  along  the  city  towards  Execution  Dock 
I  shall  meet  with  little  pity,  every  one  at  me  will  mock  : 
On  me  they  will  cast  reflections,  which  will  cause  much  discon- 
tent ; 
Let  this  quail  the  fond  affections  of  the  proud  and  insolent. 

Farewell  to  the  joy  and  pleasure  which  I  formerly  have  had  : 
Now  my  griefs  are  out  of  measure,  my  heroick  heart  is  sad  : 
All  my  comforts  are  departed,  there  is  nothing  left  but  grief, 
Conscience    wounded,    broken-hearted,    Lord,   afford   me   some 
relief. 

Blessed  Father,  don't  forsake  me  in  the  bitter  pangs  of  death. 
Ot  thy  tender  mercy  take  me,  when  I  shall  resign  my  breath, 
To  thy  glorious  habitations,  which  are  free  from  care  and  strife. 
Farewel  to  all  tribulations  which  attends  our  humane  life. 

Now  the  sad  and  dismal  hour  of  my  death  is  drawing  nigh  : 
Tho'  the  fates  may  seem  to  lower  let  the  loving  standers-by 
Grant  me  now  their  prayers  and  pity,  which  does  worldly  wealth 

excel. 
Now  I  end  my  mournful  ditty  and  you  see  my  last  farewel 


156  SONGS   AND   BALLADS 

THE    VALLIANT  ADMIRAL ;    OR,    THE    WON- 
DERFUL SUCCESS  OF  SIR  JOHN  LEAKE, 

Who  took  a  hundred  sail  of  laden  transports  from 
the  French,  which  he  sent  to  Barcelona. 

To  the  Tune  of  Thursday  in  the  morn,  etc. 


Now  of  n^ble,  hardy  men  of  might, 

And  those  that  with  valour  can  heartily  maintain 
In  the  bloody  field  King  Charles'  right, 

To  make  him  happy  on  the  royal  throne  of  Spain, 

Of  these  I  mean  to  sing 

While  fame  is  on  the  wing, 

Glad  tydings  to  convey, 

How  we  the  other  day 
Did  many  laden  transports  take 

On  the  seas,  with  much  ease, 
By  the  right  renowned  Sir  John  Leake. 

Now  the  French  have  lost  their  trusty  friend, 

Who  used  to'inform  them  of  all  our  State  affairs  ; 
On  his  letters  they  did  still  depend, 

By  which  we  oft  were  drawn  into  fatal  snares  : 

He's  gone,  he's  gone  with  shame. 

Now  valiant  men  of  fame 

Can  prosper  when  they  go, 

And  daunt  the  daring  foe, 
Making  their  stubborn  hearts  to  ake, 

As  they  find  Fortune  kind 
To  the  right  renowned  Sir  John  Leake. 

Under  his  command  the  royal  fleet 

With  transports  and  tenders  was  for  Lisbon  bound. 
This  passage  'twas  his  chance  to  meet 

The  French,  which  he  did  manfully  encompass  round, 

A  hundred  sail  and  more, 

As  they  was  passing  o're 

Towards  the  banks  of  Spain, 

All  loaded  well  with  grain. 
We  ninety  of  those  barks  did  take, 

Which  was  there,  by  the  care 
Of  the  right  renowned  Sir  John  Leake. 


S/fi  JO  HA    LEAKE  l$7 

When  our  flying  streamers  they  beheld 

And  Stout  men-of-war,  which  was  likewise  rarely  man'd 
They  were  with  exceeding  sorrow  fill'd  }  ' 

A  thousand  times  in  vain  they  wish  themselves  on  land 
Aloud  they  cry'd,  '  Morblew.' 
Alas  !  that  wou'd  not  do. 
the  British  lyon  bold, 
Which  scorns  to  be  controul'd 
Caused  their  stubborn  hearts  to  ake  ; 

Took  they  were  by  the  care 
Of  the  right  renowned  Sir  John  Leake. 

This  vast  fleet  of  barks  was  then  convey'd 

Under  the  protection  of  three  French  men-of-war 
Finding  they  by  us  captives  were  made, 
Alas !  they  rung  their  hands  and  cry'd  aloud   '  Begar 
De  Bntams  bold  are  come,  g    ' 

With  cannon,  trumpet,  drum, 
To  seize  upon  our  corn, 
And  make  us  all  forlorn.' 
This  was  the  mourn  which  they  did  make  • 

For  they  found  they  were  bound 
lo  submit  to  valliant  Sir  John  Leake. 

Cloathes  for  many  thousands  were  on  board 

I  hose  barks  which  was  taken,  and  naval  stores  likewisP  • 
Barley  oats,  and  wheat,  which  did  afford  ' 

-Much  comfort  to  the  army  of  the  Grand  Allies  ■ 
l*or  well  we  may  conclude, 
They  having  store  of  food, 
And  other  comforts  still, 

x   a    fTu  eyr'H  fig?1  with  ri§ht  good-will 
And  of  the  French  strange  havock  make  ; 

1  hen  let's  pray,  night  and  day, 
hor  the  right  renowned  Sir  John  Leake. 

To  fair  Barcelona  they  have  brought 

O  t£°Fe  ncl?laden  carS°es'  worth  many  thousand  pounds 

0  the  French  commander  little  thought  P 
They  should  meet  with  crabid  Fortune's  fatal  frown  : 

tfut  so  it  came  to  pass ; 
Each  looking  like  an  ass 
At  their  unhappy  doom, 
How  they  did  fret  and  foam, 
v\  hile  we  joy  and  triumph  make, 

Drinking  still,  with  good-will, 

1  o  the  right  renowned  Sir  John  Leake 


158  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 


THE   SEA-FIGHT:    OR,    THE  FRENCH  PRIZE 
TAKEN:    A   BALIAD. 

'  To  your  quarters,  my  lads ;  we  are  now  within  shot ; 

Let  your  guns  be  all  loose  in  their  tackle, 
Your  ports  be  knock'd  open,  and  every  thing  got 

In  a  right  ready  order  for  battle. 
c^e,  see  that  the  decks  and  the  gun-room  be  clear, 

/\nd  take  care  that  your  matches  be  lighted ; 
Tho'  she  boldly  bears  down  she  shall  find  when  she's  near 

That  we  bold  Brittains  scorn  to  be  frighted. 

'  Up  noise  of  trumpets  ;  be  brisk ;  hail  our  prize. 

Hark  :  she  answers  again  with  her  trumpets. 
She's  resolv'd  to  engage ;  to  the  windward  she  plys. 

See,  her  colours  are  out  and  her  drum  beats. 
Hold  fast,  jolly  gunner ;  let  Monsieur  begin  ; 

We  are  are  able,  my  boys,  to  receive  him. 
If  he  galls  us  at  first,  when  we  get  him  close  in, 

We  will  make  him  submit  e'er  we  leave  him. 

'  Cheer  up,  golden  boys  ;  we  are  never  the  worse, 

Tho'  sh'as  pour'd  in  a  broad-side  upon  us ; 
She  only  has  rak'd  us  a  little  :  no  force, 

Jolly  lads,  have  the  enemy  done  us. 
Their  turn  shall  be  next.     Port  easy,  edge  nigh  her : 

Be  sure  bear  your  guns  to  a  tittle. 
God  give  us  good  luck,  and  now,  gunner,  give  fire. 

Zounds  !  starboard  ;  now  shear  off  a  little. 

'  Huzza  !  my  good  lads  :  that  was  done  to  our  mind. 

She's  our  own ;  we  shall  certainly  have  her. 
See,  see,  she  bears  up  with  a  stiff  gale  of  wind, 

That  her  leaks  may  be  stopped  which  we  gave  her. 
Port,  port,  for  she  shoots  ahead  from  us  apace  ; 

Hoist  the  topsail  and  bear  briskly  after ; 
Now,  gunner,  with  good  store  of  langril  and  case 

Let  the  guns  be  all  loaded  for  slaughter. 

'  Thus,  thus  ;  keep  her  thus  ;  well  steer'd,  my  good  boys, 

I  find  we  shall  soon  be  upon  her. 
Nov/,  lads,  for  the  gold  that's  aboard  of  the  prize  ; 

It  will  all  be  your  own  when  you've  won  her. 


THE   SEA-FIGHT  159 

Port  easy,  edge  tow'rds  her,  and  run  up  her  side. 

Now  under  our  lee  we  have  got  her ; 
As  stout  as  she  seems  we  shall  humble  her  pride. 

Now,  gunner,  give  fire  and  have  at  her. 

1  See,  see  how  the  enemy  lye  heads  and  points. 

Our  shot  have  done  great  execution  ; 
We  have  shatter'd  their  limbs,  and  so  mangled  their  joints 

That  they  are  all  in  a  bloody  confusion. 
Now  board  'em,  my  lads  ;  see  you[r]  lashes  are  clear ; 

Huzza  !  and  couragiously  enter. 
I  hope  we  shall  find  e'ery  Brittan  that's  here 

Will  be  bold  in  so  brave  an  adventure. 

'  How  they  hide  between  decks ;  by  their  skulking  they  show 

That  the  French  are  but  puny  bravadoes. 
Wounds  !  cut  up  her  hatches,  and  ply  'em  below 

With  your  stinkpots  and  hand  granadoes. 
Avast :  they  submit  and  cry  out  for  their  lives. 

Good  quarter  we're  ready  to  grant  ye. 
If  you'll  lay  down  your  arms,  and  come  out  of  your  hives, 

And  obey  me  as  I  shall  command  ye.' 

"Yea,  yea,  we  surrender."     'Then  haul  down  your  sails, 

And  furl  'em  without  opposition  ; 
For  he  that  crys  "  Quarter,"  and  after  rebels, 

Shall  be  hanged  without  any  compassion. 
Now  loose  all  your  lashings  and  shear  off  the  ship. 

We  are  clear.     Go  and  hoist  out  the  shallop. 
Bring  the  pris'ners  on  board,  but  not  load  her  too  deep, 

Least  the  ocean  should  swallow  ye  all  up.' 

'  Be  sure  you  take  care  of  the  captain  and  those 

In  commission,  and  civilly  use  'em  ; 
For  tho'  they  are  pris'ners,  as  well  as  our  foes, 

'Tis  beneath  British  souls  to  abuse  'em. 
Good  fortune  to  them  the  success  might  have  gave ; 

Let  us  therefore  respectfully  treat  'em  ; 
For  tho'  they  are  conquered  they  yet  may  be  brave, 

Tho'  but  cowards  to  those  who  have  beat  'em, 

'  How  chear  yee,  my  lads?  is  not  this  jolly  sport  ? 

See  how  Fortune  invites  you  to  fight  on. 
Stand  in  with  our  prize  to  the  next  merry  port  ; 

Tow  her  in  for  the  honour  of  Brittan. 


160  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Now  fling  up  the  bowl ;  bring  an  anchor  of  Nantz  ; 

Let  the  doctor  thank  God  for  His  mercies  ; 
Then  we'll  drink  the  Queen's  health  to  our  captives  of  France 

With  a  French  man-of-war  at  our  arses. 


The  dismal  lamentation  of  the  widows  and  father- 
less children  for  the  loss  of  their  husbands  and 
relations,  that  was  blown  up  on  board  the  Edgar 
man-of-war,  October,  15,  171 1. 

To  the  Tune  of  Aim  not  too  high. 

ist  Woman. 

Hark  !  hark  !  alas  !  what  fatal  news  is  come  ! 
It  strikes  a  terror  great  thro'  Christendom. 

2nd  Woman. 
What  is  it,  neighbour  ?     Pray,  to  me  unfold. 

ist  Woman. 
The  sadest  news  that  ever  mortal  told. 

2ND  Woman. 

Hold  me  not  in  suspence,  good  neighbour,  pray, 
But  tell  me  quickly  what  you  have  to  say  : 
I  hope  our  ship  and  all  in  her  is  well ; 
I  long  to  hear  you.     Pray,  come  quickly  tell. 

ist  Woman 

Here  is  a  letter— O  prepare  your  ears  !— 

From  Gosport  Hospital.    Let  floods  of  tears 

Flow  from  your  eyes  :  the  gallant  Edgar's  gone. 

Ah  !  neighbour,  neighbour,  well  may  we  make  moan. 

Your  husband  dear  and  mine,  and  many  more, 

Are  blown  up  in  the  air,  near  thirty  score, 

By  fatal  chance  of  powder  j  by  one  blast 

Our  tender  husbands  now  have  breath'd  their  last. 


LOSS   OF   THE   EDGAR  161 

Here  comes  a  messenger  can  tell  the  rest  j 
I  cannot  speak,  I  am  so  much  opprest. 
Come,  gentle  messenger,  relate  their  woe, 
And  tell,  in  brief,  the  truth  of  all  you  saw. 

Messenger. 

I  was  at  Spithjad  that  time,  and  saw  the  sight. 
I  was  amaz'd  ;  my  soul  it  did  affright  : 
Five  hundred  persons  blown  up  in  the  air  ; 
Their  shrieks  and  cries  no  mortal  cou'd  declare. 
Some  short-allowance  mony  was  to  be  paid 
That  fatal  day,  for  which  on  board  they  stay'd. 
They  merry  were,  and  little  did  they  dread 
That  the  next  moment  they  should  all  be  dead. 
Removing  gun-powder  some  hours  they  was  ; 
That  powder  wrough[t]  their  dismal  woes,  alas  ! 
Thro'  some  neglect  fire  to  th'  powder  got, 
And  all  these  people  kill'd  upon  the  spot. 
Blown  in  an  instant  up,  at  once  indeed  ; 
That  dreadful  blow  makes  hearts  of  stone  to  bleed. 
Like  roaring  thunder  gave  a  dreadful  crack  ; 
Both  ship  and  people  quickly  went  to  wrack. 
Legs,  arms,  heads,  hands,  feet,  hips,  bones,  back  and  thighs 
By  fire  and  powder  flew  up  to  the  skies. 
Shatter'd  at  once  in  shivers  up  they  flew, 
And  in  an  instant  fled  from  mortal  view. 
Their  sudden  shrieks,  gone  just  before  they  went, 
Did  eccho  shrilly,  and  tho'  all  was  bent 
To  help  them  in  distress,  yet  it  was  vain, 
Their  ship  in  thousand  pieces  rent  in  twain. 

2 nii  Woman. 

O  wretched  sight  !  O  fatal  was  the  day  ! 
O  my  dear  husband,  art  thou  fled  away  ? 
Was  this  thy  fatal  exit  from  this  world  ? 
No  grave  !  but  peace-meal  was  thy  carcass  hurl'd. 
O  heavy  message !  the  sad  tidings  spread  : 
O  my  dear  husband,  are  you  from  me  fled  ? 
Mv  soul  sinks  deep  with  grief  for  this  my  loss, 
In  deep  despair  my  parting  soul  is  toss'd. 

ist  Woman. 

Ah,  neighbour,  neighbour,  you  are  not  alone. 
Here's  hundreds  of  us  to  lament  and  moan 

M 


1 62  SOJVGS  AND   BALLADS 

Our  poor  unhappy  husbands'  fatal  fall 
Sweet  Jesus  Christ  take  pity  on  us  all. 
Children  and  widows  send  up  doleful  cries- 
1  heir  lamentations  pierce  quite  thro'  the  skies  : 
Bereft  of  earthly  joys,  with  grief  opprest, 
lis  God  alone  can  ease  each  troubled  breast, 
rheir  earthly  stay  and  staff  from  them  is  gone, 
Wherefore  they  must  depend  on  God  alone 
And  our  good  Queen  will  pity  of  them  take  • 
Then  grant  them  help  for  blessed  Jesus'  sake. 
One  man  of  all  that  number  is  alive 
But  is  so  weak  he  cannot  long  survive 
I  hen  let  us  all  prepared  be  for  death, 
Since  none  knows  when  we  must  resign  our  breath 
By  providence  the  captain  just  before. 
With  s  lady  too,  did  chance  to  go  ashore 
Some  other  officers  and  sailors  too 
Are  sav'd,  and  did  that  danger  quite  eschew. 
1  hen  let  us  all  our  sinful  lives  amend, 
Since  God  such  punishments  to  mortal  send 
Let  s  bear  in  mind  this  tragedy  just  past, 
And  strive  to  live  as  each  day  was  our  last 


THE  SAILORS  COMPLAINT. 

Snd^hfnlL?11, t0  my  diUy'  aH  ye  J'0lly  he»rts  of  gold, 
Sure  true  love  was  ne'er  so  treated  as  I  am  by  scornful  Sue. 

When  I  landed  first  at  Dover  she  appeared  a  goddess  brkht 
From  foreign  parts  but  just  come  ovTr  I  was  sLck  wid^so  fair  a 

On  the  shore  pretty  Susan  walked  near  to  where  our  fiWP  l«v 
And  altho'  so  near  the  landing,  I,  alas  !  was  cast  away T       ^ 

Wher^  first  I  hail'd  my  pretty  creature,  the  delight  of  land  and 
No  man  ever  saw  a  sweeter,  I'd  have  kept  her  company  • 
But    loV?  madMhCr  my  true  ,0ve>  for  be"er  orTlrse 

'cours       C0UM  "^  C°mpaSS  h6r  f0r  t0  s*er  the  marriage 


FAIR  SALLY  163 

Once  no  greater  joy  or  pleasure  could  have  come  into  my  mind, 
Than  to  see  the  bold  Defiance  sailing  right  before  the  wind, 
O'er  the  white  waves  as  she  danced,  and  her  colours  gaily  flew  ; 
But  that  was  not  half  so  charming  as  the  trim  of  lovely  Sue. 

On  a  rocky  coast  I've  driven  where  the  stormy  winds  do  rise, 
Where  the  rolling  mountain  billows  lift  a  vessel  to  the  skies  ;  5 
But  from  land,  or  from  the  ocean,  little  dread  I  ever  knew, 
When  compared  to  the  dangers  in  the  frowns  of  scornful  Sue. 

Long  I  wonder'd  why  my  jewel  had  the  heart  to  use  me  so, 
Till  I  found  by  often  sounding  she'd  another  love  in  tow  ; 
So  farewell  hard-hearted  Sukie,  I'll  my  fortune  seek  at  sea, 
And  try  in  a  more  friendly  latitude,  since  in  yours  I  cannot  be. 


FAIR  SALLY  LOV'D  A   BONNY  SAILOR 

Fair  Sally  lov'd  a  bonny  sailor, 

With  tears  she  sent  him  out  to  roam, 

Young  Thomas  taking  leave  did  tell  her 
He  left  her  with  his  heart  at  home. 

She  view'd  the  seas  from  off  the  hill, 

And  as  she  turn'd  her  spinning-wheel, 
Sang  of  her  bonny  sailor. 

The  wind  grew  loud  and  she  grew  paler 
To  see  the  weathercock  turn  round, 

When  lo !  she  spied  her  bonny  sailor 
Come  whistling  o'er  the  fallow  ground  : 

With  nimble  haste  he  leap'd  the  stile, 

Fair  Sally  met  him  with  a  smile, 
And  hugg'd  her  bonny  sailor. 

Fast  round  the  waist  he  took  his  Sally, 
But  first  around  his  mouth  wip'd  he  ; 

Like  home-bred  spark  he  could  not  dally, 
But  press'd  and  kiss'd  her  with  a  glee. 

'Through  winds,  and  waves,  and  dashing  rain,' 

Said  he,  ;  thy  Tom's  return'd  again, 
To  bring  a  heart  for  Sally.' 

M   2 


1 64  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

'  Welcome  ! '  cry'd  she,  '  my  constant  Thomas, 
Tho'  out  of  sight,  ne'er  out  of  mind, 

Tho'  seas  our  hearts  have  parted  from  us, 
Yet  still  my  thoughts  were  left  behind  ; 

So  much  my  thoughts  took  Tommy's  part, 

That  time  nor  absence  from  my  heart 
Could  drive  my  constant  Thomas.' 

'  This  knife  the  gift  of  lovely  Sally, 

Which  still  I've  kept  for  her  dear  sake, 

A  thousand  times  in  am'rous  folly 
Her  name  has  carv'd  upon  the  deck. 

Again  this  happy  pledge  returns, 

To  shew  how  truly  Thomas  burns, 
How  truly  burns  for  Sally.' 

'  This  thimble  thou  didst  give  to  Sally, 
Whene'er  I  see  I  think  on  you. 

Then  why  should  Tom  stand  shilly  shally 
When  yonder  steeple's  in  our  view  ?  ' 

Tom,  never  to  occasion  blind, 

Now  took  her  in  the  coming  mind, 
And  went  to  church  with  Sally. 


<  HOW  PLEASANT  A   SAILORS  LIFE  PASSES: 

How  pleasant  a  sailor's  life  passes, 

Who  roams  o'er  the  watery  main  ! 
No  treasure  he  ever  amasses, 

But  cheerfully  spends  all  his  gain. 
We're  strangers  to  party  and  faction, 

To  honour  and  honesty  true, 
And  wou'd  not  commit  a  base  action 

For  power  or  profit  in  view. 
Then  why  should  we  quarrel  for  riclus, 

Or  any  such  glittering  toys  ? 
.  1  light  heart  and  a  thin  pair  of  breeches 

Goes  through  the  tvorld,  brave  boys. 

The  world  is  a  beautiful  garden 

Enrich'd  with  the  blessings  of  life, 
The  toiler  with  plenty  rewarding, 

Which  plenty  too  often  breeds  strife. 


THE   BOATSWAIN'S    WHISTLE    165 

When  terrible  tempests  assail  us 

\nd  mountainous  billows  affi  ght, 
No  grandeur  or  wealth  can  avail  us, 

But  skilful  industry  steers  right. 

The  courtier's  more  subject  to  dangers, 

Who  rules  at  the  helm  of  the  State, 
Than  we  that,  to  politicks  strangers 

Escape  the  snares  laid  for  the  great. 
The  various  blessings  of  nature 

In  various  nations  we  try. 
No  mortals  than  us  can  be  greater, 

Who  merrily  live  till  we  die. 


THE  BOATSWAIN'S    WHISTLE. 

Life  is  chequer'd-toil  and  pleasure 
Fill  up  all  the  various  measure. 
See  the  crew  in  flannel  jerkins 
Drinking,  toping  flip  by  firkins  ; 

And  as  they  raise  the  tip 

To  their  happy  lip,       .  , 

On  the  deck  is  heard  no  otner  sound, 

But  prithee  Jack,  Prithee  Dick, 

Prithee  Sam,  Prithee  Tom, 
Let  the  can  go  round. 

Chorus. 

Then  hark  to  the  Boatswain's  whistle  whistle  / 
Then  hark  to  tlie  Boatswain's  whistle,  whistle ! 
Bustle,  bustle,  brave  boys, 
Let  us  sing,  let  us  toil, 
But  let's  drink  all  the  while, 
For  labour's  the  price  of  our  joys, 
For  labour's  the  price  of  our  joys. 

Life  is  chequer'd-toil  and  pleasure 
Fill  up  all  the  various  measure  : 
Hark  !  the  crew  with  sun-burnt  faces, 
Chanting  Biack-eyd  Susan's  graces  ; 


1 66  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

And  as  they  raise  their  notes 
Thro'  their  rusty  throats 
On  the  deck  is  heard  no  other  sound, 
But  prithee  Jack,  prithee  Dick, 
Prithee  Sam,  prithee  Tom, 
Let  the  can  go  round. 

Then  hark,  etc. 

Life  is  chequer'd — toil  and  pleasure 
Fill  up  all  the  various  measure. 
Hark  !  the  crew  their  cares  discarding 
With  huffe-cap  or  with  chuck-farthing  : 

Still  in  merry  pin 

Let  'em  lose  or  win, 
On  the  deck  is  heard  no  other  sound 

But  prithee  Jack,  prithee  Dick, 

Prithee  Sam,  prithee  Tom, 
Let  the  can  go  round. 

Then  hark,  etc. 


THE  DOWNFALL   OF  PLRACY. 

Being  a  full  and  true  account  of  a  desperate  and 
bloody  sea-fight  between  Lieutenant  Maynard 
and  that  noted  pirate  Captain  Teach,  commonly 
call'd  by  the  name  of  Black-beard ;  Maynard 
had  fifty  men,  thirty-five  of  which  where  kill'd 
and  wounded  in  the  action  :  Teach  had  twenty- 
one,  most  of  which  was  kill'd  and  the  rest 
carried  to  Virginia  in  order  to  take  their  tryal. 

Will  you  hear  of  a  bloody  battle,  lately  fought  upon  the  seas  ? 
It  will  make  your  ears  to  rattle  and  your  admiration  cease : 
Have  you  heard  of  Teach  the  rover,  and  his   knavery  on   the 

main  ; 
How  of  gold  he  was  a  lover,  how  he  lov'd  ill-got  [ten]  gain  ? 


THE  DOWNFALL    OF  PIRACY    167 

When  the  Act  of  Grace  appeared  Captain  Teach   and  all    his 

men 
Unto  Carolina  steered,  where  they  us'd  him  kindly  then ; 
There  he  marry 'd  to  a  lady,  and  gave  her  five  hundred  pound, 
But  to  her  he  prov'd  unsteady,  for  he   soon    march'd    off  the 

ground 

And  returned,  as  I  tell  you,  to  his  robbery  as  before  : 
Burning,  sinking  ships  of  value,  filling  them  with  purple  gore. 
When  he  was  at  Carolina,  there  the  Governor  did  send 
To  the  Governor  of  Virgin[i]a,  that  he  might  assistance  lend. 

Then  the  man-of-war's  commander,    two  small  sloops  he   fitted 

out ; 
Fifty  men  he  put  on  board,  sir,  who  resolv'd  to  stand  it  out. 
The  lieutenant  he  commanded  both  the  sloops,    and  you  shall 

hear 
How  before  he  landed  he  suppress'd  them  without  fear. 

Valiant  Maynard  as  he  sailed  soon  the  pirate  did  espy  ; 

With  his  trumpet  he  then  hailed,  and  to  him  they  did  reply  : 

1  Captain  Teach  is  our  commander.'     Maynard  said,  '  He  is  the 

man 
Whom  I  am  resolv'd  to  hang,  sir,  let  him  do  the  best  he  can.' 

Teach  replied  unto  Maynard,  '  You  no  quarter  here  shall  see, 
But  be  hanged  on  the  mainyard,  you  and  all  your  company.' 
Maynard  said,  '  I  none  desire  of  such  knaves  as  thee  and  thine.' 
'  None  I'll  give,'  Teach  then  replied  ;  '  my  boys,  give  me  a  glass  of 
wine.' 

He  took  the  glass  and  drank  damnation  unto  Maynard  and  his 

crew, 
To  himself  and  generation,  then  the  glass  away  he  threw. 
Brave  Maynard  was  resolv'd  to  have  him,  tho'  he'd  cannons  nine 

or  ten  : 
Teach   a   broadside   quickly   gave   him,    killing   sixteen   valiant 

men. 

Maynard  boarded  him  and  to  it  they  fell  with  sword  and  pistol 

too  ; 
They  had  courage,  and  did  show  it,  killing  of  the  pirate's  crew. 
Teach  and  Maynard  on  the  quarter  fought  it  out  most  manfully  ; 
Maynard's  sword  did   cut   him  shorter,  losing  his  head  he  there 

did  die. 


^\VE 

1 68  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

Every  sailor  fought  while  he,  sir,  power  had  to  wield  his  sword, 
Not  a  coward  could  you  see,  sir,  fear  was  driven  from  aboard ; 
Wounded  men  on  both  sides  fell,  sir,  'twas  a  doleful  sight  to  see, 
Nothing     could     their     courage     quell,    sir ;     O    they    fought 
couragiously. 

When  the  bloody  fight  was  over  we're  informed  by  a  letter  writ, 
Teach's  head  was  made  a  cover  to  the  jack-staff  of  the  ship  ; 
Thus  they  sailed  to  Virginia,  and  when  they  the  story  told 
How  they  killed  the  pirates  many,  they'd  applause  from  young 
and  old. 


ADMIRAL    CAVENDISH S  DISTRESS   ON  BOARD 
THE    CANTERBURY. 

Come  all  ye  valiant  seamen  of  courage  stout  and  bold, 

That  value  more  your  honour  more  than  misers  do  their  gold  : 

When  we  receive  our  orders  we  are  obliged  to  go 

O'er  the  main  to  proud  Spain,  let  the  wind  blow  high  or  low. 

It  is  the  valiant  Canterbury,  as  I  to  you  shall  tell, 
Since  Providence  has  sav'd  rny  life  in  such  a  manner  well, 
And  all  our  whole  ship's  company  as  well  as  I  do  know, 
When  we  were  in  despair  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  oh  ! 

The  eighteenth  of  September  from  Spithead  we  set  sail, 
With  the  Romney  in  our  company,  blest  with  a  pleasant  gale, 
And  so  we  kept  together  to  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  oh  ! 
Till  anon  the  storm  came  on  and  the  wind  began  to  blow. 

Then  seeing  of  the  storm  come  on  the  Romney  bore  away 
And  left  the  Canterbury,  for  she  could  no  longer  stay. 
And  when  they  came  to  Gibraltar  they  told  the  people  so, 
That  they  thought  we  were  lost  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  oh  ! 

But  as  Providence  would  have  it,  it  was  not  quite  so  bad ; 
But  first  we  lost  our  mizen-mast,  and  along  with  it  a  flag, 
The  next  we  lost  our  main-mast,  two  of  our  guns  also, 
And  five  men  were  drownded  then  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  oh  ! 


THE   CANTERBURY  169 

When  the  main-mast  went  away  it  gave  a  dismal  stroke, 
And  in  the  larboard-quarter  a  great  hole  thro'  it  broke, 
Whereby  the  sea  came  roaring  which  made  our  gun-room  flow. 
And  we  rowl'd  and  we  shoal'd  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  oh  ! 

Then  our  fore-mast  went  away  at  four  o'clock  at  night, 
Our  men  [were]  in  our  fore-top,  which  put  us  in  a  fright. 
Poor  souls  we  could  not  save  them  but  overboard  did  go  : 
They  were  lost  with  the  mast  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  oh  ! 

It  being  dark  and  dismal  besides  a  dreadful  night, 
One  man  upon  the  fore  castle  was  killed  out  right, 
With  a  ring  upon  his  finger  in  pieces  broke  also, 
There  he  lay  till  next  day  when  we  overboard  him  throw. 

We  stove  our  barge  and  long  boat  and  hove  them  overboard, 
Because  we  had  no  tackle  or  else  we  might  have  lower'd. 
What  with  the  sea  roaring  in  which  made  our  chests  to  flow. 
And  we  rowl'd  and  we  shoal'd  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  oh  ! 

We  lay  in  that  condition  full  seven  or  eight  days, 
Till  our  furnace  tumbled  down,  which  put  us  in  a  maze 
For  we  could  get  no  victuals  dress'd  as  I  am  very  sure, 
We  did  eat  all  raw  meat  till  we  came  to  Gibraltar. 

As  for  our  admiral  and  captain,  they  are  stout  hearts  of  gold, 
Besides  our  three  lieutenants  of  courage  stout  and  bold, 
And  all  our  whole  ship's  company  we  made  a  gallant  show, 
Altho'  we  were  in  despair  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  oh  ! 

The  storm  being  quite  over  we  got  up  jury-masts, 
And  steer'd  away  to  Gibraltar,  to  which  we  came  at  last, 
And  when  we  came  to  Gibraltar  on  shore  the  yawl  did  go, 
For  to  tell  what  befel  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  oh  ! 

Within  a  day  or  two  after  we  came  into  the  mole. 
The  people  all  came  flocking  down,  our  ship  to  behold  : 
They  said  it  was  the  strangest  thing  that  ever  they  did  know. 
We  ne'er  repine  but  drink  wine  and  drown  all  woe. 

As  for  oatmeal  and  peas,  we  ne'er  got  any  of  that  : 

Our  purser  H s  put  'em  in  his  pocket  to  make  his  guts  fat. 

But  when  we  did  come  home,  boys,  we  paid  him  off  his  score, 
Tho'  [he]  knew  'twas  our  due,  it  help'd  to  increase  [his  store]. 


i  jo  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 


THE  PACIFICK  FLEET:    A   NEW  BALLAD. 

Good  people,  give  ear,  I'll  tell  you  a  story, 
Will  tickle  your  ears,  if  you  wish  Britain's  glory ; 
For  in  rhyme  sure  the  like  was  ne'er  yet  laid  before  ye, 

Which  nobody  can  deny. 

The  Spaniards  of  late  so  haughty  are  grown, 
They  pretend  both  our  towns  and  our  ships  are  their  own, 
And  the  latter  they  take  still,  'tis  very  well  known, 

Which,  etc. 

Hereupon  we  sent  word  they  would  find  it  the  best 
To  give  over  these  pranks,  for  we  liked  not  their  jest, 
And  they  gravely  replied  they  would  weigh  our  request, 

Which,  etc. 

But  still  they  went  on  highly  pleased  with  the  joke, 
Our  traders  were  taken,  our  merchants  were  broke, 
Resolved  if  they  could  our  stern  wrath  to  provoke, 

Which,  etc. 

So  our  wrath  was  provoked,  and  our  rage  was  so  great, 
That  a  fleet  was  equipped,  those  proud  Spaniards  to  beat, 
And  we  sent  for  Dutch  help  in  a  violent  heat, 

Which,  etc. 

So  the  Dutch  came  to  help  us  with  twelve  men-of-war 
(For  the  Dutch  like  the  Devil  injustice  abhor, 
And  they  knew  that  the  Spaniards  had  not  played  us  fair), 

Which,  etc. 

So  to  Spithead  they  went,  and  at  Spithead  have  lain, 
But  design  very  soon  to  scower  out  the  main, 
To  retrieve  us  our  honour  and  humble  proud  Spain, 

Which,  etc. 

But  when  to  this  purpose  the  fleets  are  to  weigh, 
I  am  sure  yet  no  Briton  will  venture  to  say, 
But  this  I  am  sure,  they  will  sail  when  they  may, 

Which,  etc. 


THE  PACIFIC K  FLEET  171 

But  in  the  meantime,  as  in  line  they  are  laid, 
Most  wisely  they  are  of  a  double  use  made  : 
To  our  nobles  diversion,  to  our  foes  they  give  dread, 

Which,  etc. 

For  the  gentry  all  round,  and  nobility  too, 
To  Portsmouth  ride  post  this  Armada  to  view, 
As  the  first  English  fleet  was  set  out  for  a  show, 

Which,  etc. 

But  as  France  will  not  bear  Christian  blood  to  be  shed, 
Notwithstanding  a  Wager  himselfs  at  the  head, 
Fat  bucks  in  great  number  have  bled  in  their  stead, 

Which,  etc. 

For  the  Cardinal  thinks  the  same  end  we  fulfil 
If  we  bear  the  expense,  tho'  the  fleet  does  lie  still, 
For  we  so  frighten  Spain  they  will  do  what  we  will, 

Which,  etc. 


So  the  fleet  lies  at  anchor,  the  chaplains  read  prayers, 
The  ladies  are  learning  our  tarpawling  airs, 
And  each  cook  for  each  day  some  new  dishes  prepares, 

Which,  etc. 


The  treats  are  of  venison,  of  rack-punch,  and  jelly, 
Chaire  entiere  have  the  ladies  as  some  people  tell  ye 
And  few  will  return  without  tarr  in  their  belly, 

Which,  etc. 

So  when  sail  they  will,  they  will  leave  us  at  home 
A  brood  of  young  sailors  for  ages  to  come, 
Who  will  'list  volunteers  at  the  sound  of  a  drum, 

Which,  etc. 

On  this  score  alone  the  expense  were  well  made, 
For  sailors  are  wanting  for  war  both  and  trade, 
So  the  scheme  for  the  public  was  very  well  laid, 

Which,  etc. 


172  SOJVGS  AND  BALLADS 


THE  ENGLISH  SAILORS  RESOLUTION  TO  FIGHT 

THE  SPANIARDS. 

Come  all  you  jolly  sailors  bold, 

Who  always  scorn  to  be  controul'd  ; 

But  freely  us'd  to  range  the  seas, 

And  plow  the  ocean  where  they  please  ; 

But  now  are  oppos'd  and  plundered  by  those 

Guarda  Coastas  belonging  to  Spain ; 

But  this  I  can  tell,  would  we  thump  them  but  well, 

Our  merchants  might  have  their  own  again. 

Our  merchants  have  been  long  abus'd, 

Our  ships  have  been  taken,  our  men  misus'd ; 

And  tho'  we  often  did  complain, 

No  restoration  e'er  could  gain  ; 

But  still  are  put  by,  with  some  fallacy, 

Altho'  we're  masters  of  the  main ; 

But  this  I  can  tell ;  wou'd  we  thump  them  but  well, 

Our  merchants  might  have  their  own  again. 

'Cause  Captain  Jenkins  did  them  oppose, 

They  cut  off  his  ears  and  slit  his  nose, 

And  then  his  hands  together  bound, 

And  to  the  yard  arm  drew  him  up  and  down ; 

Then  with  a  jear,  they  gave  him  his  ear, 

Saying  '  Take  it  to  your  master '  in  disdain. 

But  our  King  I  can  tell,  loves  his  subjects  so  well, 

That  he'll  curb  the  haughty  pride  of  Spain. 

So  insolent  they  did  behave, 

They  of  our  sailors  did  make  slaves, 

And  work'd  all  day  hard  as  they  cou'd. 

With  musty  horse  beans  for  their  food, 

Or  else  a  little  dish  of  stinking  stock-fish  ; 

Not  fitting  unto  the  dogs  to  throw, 

These  men  would  delight  to  do  themselves  right, 

If  to  war  with  the  Spaniards  we  go. 

Fifty-two  sail  of  ships  (they  say) 

In  nine  years  time  they've  took  away. 

A  very  tragical  account, 

To  what  great  sums  must  this  amount ; 


THE  SPANISH    WAR  17, 

Our  rights  to  in[v]ade  and  spoil  our  trade, 

High  time  for  our  merchants  to  complain. 

I  hope  to  see  the  day  this  long  score  they  must  pay, 

And  make  them  refund  it  all  again. 

For  these  vile  crimes  they've  an  excuse, 
And  say  they  suffer  great  abuse  ; 

[line  missing] 
And  bring  their  peices  of  eight  away, 
This  I  must  own  by  some  has  been  done, 
But  let  them  only  have  the  blame  ; 
Tis  hard  to  condemn  all  the  rest  for  them, 
For  rogues  will  be  rogues  while  the  world  remains. 

Our  gracious  King  and  parliament 

To  right  our  merchants  are  fully  bent ; 

For  they  have  been  too  long  abus'd, 

And  by  false  pretences  have  been  amus'd. 

But  now  I'm  glad  to  find  our  Government  so  kind. 

To  redress  our  merchants  who  complain, 

For  this  I  can,  etc. 

With  taking  our  ships  they're  not  content, 

But  want  our  towns  on  the  continent  ; 

As  Georgia  and  Carolina  brave, 

They  boast  and  brag  they  soon  will  have. 

But  we  hope  that  our  fleet  their  designs  will  defeat, 

When  they  approach  the  coast  of  Spain, 

For  th's  I  can,  etc. 

There's  Giberaltar  and  Portmahone, 
They  very  fain  would  make  their  own  : 
It  grieves  them  much,  we've  been  told, 
That  two  such  places  we  should  hold. 
Giberalter's  the  key,  'tis  well  known  of  that  sea 
Call'd  by  the  name  of  the  Mediterain. 
For  this  I  can,  etc. 

Come  jolly  sailors,  far  and  near, 

To  man  our  fleet  with  speed  prepare  : 

With  Admiral  Haddock  freely  go, 

True  British  valour  for  to  show  ; 

And  brave  boys  boldly  fight  our  merchants  for  to  right, 

Free  plunder,  boys,  will  crown  your  pain, 

For  this  I  can  tell,  would  we  thump  them  but  well, 

Our  merchants  might  have  their  own  again. 


i74  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

ENGLAND'S  GLORY  IN    THE    DECLARATION  OF 

WAR. 

Compos'd  by  George  Barker. 

Let  every  loyal  soul  rejoyce, 

And  joyn  with  me  in  heart  and  voice, 

Since  now  we  have  a  happy  choice, 

France  and  Spain  to  bring  under. 
Fall  on,  brave  boys,  without  delay, 
Brave  Haddock  will  his  guns  display, 
And  quickly  make  of  Spain  a  prey, 

And  give  his  men  the  plunder 

Next,  merchants,  let  your  voices  ring, 
O'er  flowing  bowls  we'll  cheerful  sing, 
With  many  thanks  unto  the  King, 

For  granting  us  protection. 
No  longer  we'll  be  in  the  dark, 
Since  we  have  got  letters  of  marque, 
We'll  make  Jack  Spaniard  for  to  smart 

And  pay  for  the  Convention. 

Spithead  shall  no  more  with  us  groan, 
Nor  we  poor  sailors  make  our  moan, 
We'll  alter  Jack  Spaniard's  tone, 

Though  they  so  long  have  wanted. 
For  now  we  shall  be  kept  in  pay, 
Our  wives  next  year  appear  so  gay  ; 
Of  Spanish  gold  we'll  make  a  prey, 

With  courage  most  undaunted. 

No  more  of  trade  let  us  complain ; 
Our  antient  rights  we  shall  maintain, 
Brave  Britain's  isle  flourish  again 

By  the  new  declaration. 
We'll  learn  Spain  in  this  present  war 
Our  merchant  captains  for  to  fear, 
With  us  they  have  run  their  jest  too  far, 

In  their  base  depredations. 

Our  shops  shall  soon  be  open'd  wide, 
By  humbling  Jack  Spaniard's  pride, 


TAKING   OF  THE  PRINCISSA      175 

And  our  poor  tradesmen  full  employ'd, 

To  their  great  satisfaction. 
Then  let  us  all  in  love  unite, 

id  stand  for  the  King  and  country's  right  ; 
Boldly  with  proud  Spain  we'll  fight, 

And  thus  end  all  distraction. 

THE   TAKING   OF  THE  PRINCISSA. 

You  brave  English  sailors  that  plow  the  ocean  wide, 

There  are  no  better  fellows  in  all  the  world  beside  ; 

Give  ear  unto  a  bloody  fight  to  you  I  will  display 

Between  a  Spanish  man-of-war,  and  the  Kent,  near  Cator  Bay. 

The  Lennox  and  the  Orford  was  cruising  thereabout, 

And  by  a  Spanish  man-of-war  they  quickly  were  spy'd  out. 

Under  French  colours  she  down  upon  us  bore, 

Thinking  we  were  two  merchant  ships  which  had  of  riches  store  ; 

The  third  she  thought  a  man-of-war  our  convoy  for  to  be, 

And  soon  she  tho't  to  have  taken  us,  if  not  more  force  than  she ; 

But  whilst  our  English  man-of-war  did  preparations  make, 

And  when  that  she  came  up  with  her,  it  prov'd  a  sad  mistake. 

She  carried  fiv6  hundred  seamen,  four  hundred  marines, 
Most  of  them  Irish  fellows,  who  fought  with  [courage  keen] ; 
Seventy-four  guns  she  mounted,  all  of  the  largest  size, 
With  which  she  thought  of  our  ships  to  make  a  noble  prize, 
But  she  was  much  mistaken,  as  plainly  doth  appear, 
For  we  have  made  a  prize  of  her,  and  she's  arrived  here. 

The  Lennox,  Captain  Manning,  receiv'd  the  first  broadside, 
Which  carried  away  his  foremast,  and  his  bowsprit  beside ; 
This  sad  unhappy  accident  he  would  no  longer  stay  : 
He  was  so  sore  disabled,  was  forc'd  to  bear  away  ; 
But  for  to  shew  his  courage  bold  altho'  distressed  sore, 
He  did  a  thundering  broadside  into  the  Spaniard  pour. 

The  next  run  up  the  Kent,  with  Captain  Durell  bold, 

Who  gave  to  them  a  good  broadside,  like  jolly  hearts  of  gold, 

Which  scar'd  the  Spanish  captain  so,  he  was  just  going  to  strike, 

So  certainly  he  had  it  done,  but  for  an  Irish  tike, 

Which  was  his  first  lieutenant,  who  with  the  men  combin'd ; 

He  said  '  I'll  fight  the  ship  myself,  the  captain  we'll  confine. 


176  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

'  Now  come,  my  loving  countrymen,  with  courage  play  your  parts, 

For  if  the  English  take  us,  we  are  sure  of  our  deserts  ; 

Tis  better  manfully  to  fight,  and  here  to  die  at  sea, 

For  if  the  English  take  us  now,  we  shall  all  hanged  be.' 

With  that  they  gave  a  loud  huzza,  unto  him  thus  did  cry, 

'  You  shall  from  hence  our  captain  be,  we'll  fight  until  we  die.' 

Like  jolly  hearts  of  gold  they  made  their  cannons  roar, 

Into  the  Kent  without  delay  a  full  broad-side  did  pour ; 

Which  noble  Captain  Durell  bold  did  soon  return  again  : 

Full  fifty  of  the  Spanish  men  by  that  broad-side  were  slain. 

Broad-side  for  broad-side,  nine  hours  we  did  fight, 

Till  we  at  length  did  take  them,  our  cause  being  just  and  right. 

Yard-arm  and  yard-arm,  for  hours  there  [we]  lay  ; 

With  great  guns,  small  arms,  and  cutlasses  we  made  a  bloody 

fray; 
Dead  men  in  numbers  lay  about,  our  scuppers  fill'd  with  blood. 
Which  made  the  seas  [a]round  us  so  like  a  purple  flood. 
Three  fingers  from  one  hand  brave  Captain  Durell  lost ; 
But  yet  he  was  not  daunted,  still  he  maintain'd  the  cause. 

The  third  it  was  the  Orford,  who  had  spectator  been, 

But  could  not  come  to  help  us,  nor  join  the  bloody  scene ; 

He  hove  his  ship  up  to  the  wind,  and  brought  some  guns  to  bear, 

When  the  desperate  saw  that,  his  heart  sunk  down 'with  fear  ; 

He  was  so  sore  disabled,  and  was  so  flutter'd  then, 

To  which  he  had  already  lost  above  five  hundred  men. 

But  then  this  Irish  desperate  did  also  order  then 
Two  guns  to  point  down  in  the  hold,  to  sink  both  ship  and  men. 
O  !  this  unhappy  order  fill'd  his  men  with  horrid  dread, 
When  instantly  a  cannon-ball  came  and  took  off  his  head. 
They  made  no  more  resistance,  but  down  their  colours  took, 
And  to  the  Orford  now  come  up,  immediately  she  struck. 

So  now  these  Irish  desperates,  their  case  it  must  look  sad  ; 
To  fight  against  King  and  country,  their  cause  was  very  bad. 
Here's  health  to  all  our  admirals,  and  the  captains  also, 
Likewise  to  every  brave  seaman  aboard  with  them  that  go. 
And  may  the  bowl  successful  flow  to  all  our  British  fleet, 
Wishing  they  may  Jack  Spaniard  drub,  where'er  with  them  they 
meet. 


ENGLISH   COURAGE   DISPLAYED  177 


ENGLISH  COURAGE  DISPLAYED,    OR  BRAVE 
NEWS  FROM  ADMIRAL    VERNON. 

Being  a  copy  of  verses  giving  an  account  of  the 
taking  Porto  Bello,  the  22nd  of  November  last, 
written  by  a  seaman  on  board  the  Burjord,  the 
admiral's  ship,  and  sent  here  from  Jamaica. 

Tune  of  Glorious  Charles  of  Sweden. 

Come  loyal  Britons  all  rejoyce  with  joyful  acclamations, 

And  join  with  one  united  voice  upon  thi    just  occasion  ; 

To  Admiral  Vernon  drink  a  health,  likewise  to  each  brave  fellow 

Who  with  that  noble  admiral  was  at  the  taking  of  Porto  Bello. 

From  Jamaica  he  did  sail  with  Commodore  Brown  to  attend  him, 
Against  the  Spaniards  to  prevail,  for  which  we  must  commend 

him, 
At  Porto  Be11©  he  arriv'd  where  each  brave  gallant  fellow 
With  Admiral  Vernon  bravely  fought,  at  the  taking  Porto  Bello. 

Two  men-of-war  of  twenty  guns,  likewise  five  Guarda  Costa's 
They  in  the  harbour  quickly  took,  to  surrender  they  were  forc'd, 

sir  ; 
Then  the  town  he  summons'd  strait,  to  surrender  at  his  will  O, 
Which  they  refusing  he  did  bumbard  the  town  of  Porto  Bello. 

He  did  bumbard  it  above  two  days,  and  they  again  nrturn'd  it  ; 
The  bombs  and  morters  loud  did  play,  he  vow'd  that  he  would 

burn  it  : 
Which  when  they  came  to  understand,  and  that  he  was  so  brave 

a  fellow 
They  did  surrender  out  of  hand,  the  town  of  Porto  Bello. 

Then  with  his  men  he  went  on  shore  who  strait  began  to  plunder, 
'Tis  as  they  serv'd  our  ships  before,  and  therefore  is  no  wonder. 
With  plenty  of  rum  and  good  strong  wines,  our  men  did  soon 

get  mellow 
Then  swore   that   never  a  house   should   stand  in  the  town    of 

Porto  Bello. 

N 


178  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

The  governor  to  the  admiral  sent  and  to  him  made  an  offer 
Of  thirty  thousand  pieces  of  eight  the  houses  to  save  did  proffer. 
Which  the  admiral  did  accept  with  a  right  and  free  goodwill  O, 
And  therefore  let  the  houses  stand  in  the  town  of  Porto  Bello. 

Their  Iron  Castle  he  destroy'd,  and  all  their  guns  he  seized. 
The  Spaniards  ne'er  was  more  anoy'd ;  he  did  just  what  he  pleased. 
The  South  Sea  snow  he  did  release,  and  many  a  stout  English 

fellow 
Whom  they  had  rob'd   upon   the   seas,  and   carried  into  Porto 

Bello. 

All  their  brass  guns  he  took  away,  the  iron  ones  he  nailed 
And  then  threw  them  into  the  sea,  before  from  thence  he  sailed, 
Many  a  jolly  sailor's  pouch  was  cram'd  with  white  and  yellow, 
For  they  from  plunder  could  not  be  kept  in  the  town  of  Porto 
Bello. 

Besides,  brave  Vernon  freely  gave  amongst  his  men  as  follows, 
Who  bravely  did  themselves  behave,  full  thirty  thousand  dollars, 
This  must  their  courage  animate ;  each  tar  is  a  rich  fellow, 
And  this  is  good  encouragement  for  the  taking  Porto  Bello. 

When  he  had  stayed  there  nineteen  days,  with  just  resentment 

fir'd, 
Their  forts  demolished   and   castles   rase'd  he  from  them  then 

retired, 
But  first  he  to  Panama  sent  for  many  a  gallant  fellow, 
Who  in  prison  lay  confin'd  to  be  brought  to  Porto  Bello. 

While  trumpets  they  did   loudly   sound   and   colours  were  dis- 
playing, 
The  prizes  he  with  him  brought  away  while  sailors  were  huzzaing. 
And  when  they  to  Jamaica  come,  a  glorious  tale  to  tell  O 
Of  the  noble  action  they  had  done  in  taking  of  Porto  Bello. 

To  Admiral  Vernon  toss  off  a   glass,  may  heaven   protect  and 

defend  him, 
And   when   he   has   the   Spaniard   thump'd,  may  a  safe   return 

attend  him 
To  Comodore   Brown  toss   another   down,  and  to  each  gallant 

fellow 
Who  did  so  bravely  play  their  parts  at  the  taking  of  Porto  Bello. 


HOSIERS  GHOST  ,79 

HOSIER'S   GHOST. 
To  the  Tune  of  Come  and  Listen  to  My  Ditty. 

As  near  Porto  Bello  lying 

On  the  gently  swelling  flood, 
At  midnight,  with  streamers  flying, 

Our  triumphant  navy  rode  : 
There  while  Vernon  sat  all  glorious 

From  the  Spaniards'  late  defeat, 
And  his  crew  with  shouts  victorious, 

Drank  success  to  England's  fleet, 

On  a  sudden  shrilly  sounding, 

Hideous  yells  and  shrieks  were  heard  ; 
Then,  each  heart  with  fear  confounding, 

A  sad  troop  of  ghosts  appear'd, 
All  in  dreary  hammocks  shrouded, 

Which  for  winding-sheets  they  wore, 
And  with  looks  by  sorrow  clouded, 

Frowning  on  that  hostile  shore. 

On  them  gleam'd  the  moon's  wan  lustre, 

When  the  shade  of  Hosier  brave 
His  pale  band  was  seen  to  muster, 

Rising  from  their  watery  grave. 
O'er  the  glimmering  wave  he  hied  him, 

Where  the  Burford  rear'd  her  sail, 
With  three  thousand  ghosts  beside  him, 

And  in  groans  did  Vernon  hail. 

'  Heed,  O  heed  our  fatal  story, — 

I  am  Hosier's  injur'd  ghost, — 
You  who  now  have  purchased  glory 

At  this  place  where  I  was  lost  ! 
Though  in  Porto  Bello's  ruin 

You  now  triumph  free  from  fears, 
When  you  think  on  our  undoing, 

You  will  mix  your  joy  with  tears. 

'  See  these  mournful  spectres  sweeping 

Ghastly  o'er  this  hated  wave, 
Whose  wan  cheeks  are  stain'd  with  weeping— 

These  were  English  captains  brave  ! 

N  2 


180  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

Mark  those  numbers  pale  and  horrid — 
Those  were  once  my  sailors  bold  ! 

Lo  !  each  hangs  his  drooping  forehead, 
While  his  dismal  tale  is  told. 

'  I  by  twenty  sail  attended 

Did  this  Spanish  town  affright : 
Nothing  then  its  wealth  defended 

But  my  orders  not  to  fight. 
Oh  !  that  in  this  rolling  ocean 

I  had  cast  them  with  disdain, 
And  obey'd  my  heart's  warm  motion, 

To  have  quell'd  the  pride  of  Spain  ! 

'  For  resistance  I  could  fear  none, 

But  with  twenty  ships  had  done 
What  thou,  brave  and  happy  Vernon, 

Hast  achieved  with  six  alone. 
Then  the  Bastimentos  never 

Had  our  foul  dishonour  seen, 
Nor  the  sea  the  sad  receiver 

Of  this  gallant  train  had  been. 

'  Thus,  like  thee  proud  Spain  dismaying, 

And  her  galleons  leading  home, 
Though  condemn'd  for  disobeying, 

I  had  met  a  traitor's  doom  ; 
To  have  fallen,  my  country  crying, 

He  has  play'd  an  English  part, 
Had  been  better  far  than  dying, 

Of  a  griev'd  and  broken  heart. 


&•■ 


'  Unrepining  at  thy  glory, 

Thy  successful  arms  we  hail ; 
But  remember  our  sad  story, 

And  let  Hosier's  wrongs  prevail. 
Sent  in  this  foul  clime  to  languish, 

Think  what  thousands  fell  in  vain, 
Wasted  with  disease  and  anguish, 

Not  in  glorious  battle  slain. 

1  Hence  with  all  my  train  attending, 
From  their  oozy  tombs  below, 

Through  the  hoary  foam  ascending, 
Here  I  feed  my  constant  woe  ; 


VERNON'S   GLORY  1S1 

Here  the  Bastimentos  viewing, 

We  recall  our  shameful  doom, 
And,  our  plaintive  cries  renewing. 

Wander  through  the  midnight  gloom. 

'  O'er  these  waves  for  ever  mourning 

Shall  we  roam  depriv'd  of  rest, 
If  to  Britain's  shores  returning 

You  neglect  my  just  request. 
After  this  proud  foe  subduing, 

When  your  Patriot  friends  you  see, 
Think  on  vengeance  for  my  ruin. 

And  for  England  sham'd  in  me  ! ' 


VERNON'S  GLORY:    OR,    THE   SPANIARDS' 

DEFEAT. 

Being  an  account  of  the  taking  of  Carthagena  by 
Vice-Admiral  Vernon,  Rear-Admiral  Ogle,  and 
Commodore  Lestock,  on  the  First  of  April  last. 
Written  by  a  sailor  on  board  the  Shrewsbury, 
and  brought  over  by  the  Spence  sloop. 

Tune  of  Brave  Vernon's  Triumph. 

Once  more,  brave  boys,  let  us  proclaim 

Brave  noble  Admiral  Vernon's  fame, 

With  Sir  Chaloner  Ogle  too  : 

They  now  have  made  the  Spaniards  rue  ; 

For  Carthageen  they  now  have  ta'en, 

And  laid  it  level  with  the  ground  ; 

Seven  castles  so  brave  their  town  could  not  save, 

For  Vernon  and  Ogle  have  beat  them  down. 

Last  March  we  did  from  Jamaica  sail 
With  a  fair  and  gentle  gale  : 
Vice-Admiral  Vernon  of  the  Blue, 
Sir  Chaloner  Ogle,  Rear-Admiral  too, 


1 82  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

With  Lestock  Commodore,  we  made  our  cannons  roar, 
And  two-and-twenty  frigates  besides  : 
Thirty  ships  of  the  line,  a  sight  very  fine, 
Before  Carthageen  at  anchor  to  ride. 

Bocachica  Castle  first  we  took, 

Which  made  the  Spaniards  blue  to  look ; 

That  being  of  the  largest  force, 

The  other  six  did  fall  of  course  : 

With  our  cannons  and  bombs  we  dismounted  their  guns, 

And  our  colours  did  on  their  Castles  raise  : 

Then  toss  off  a  glass,  and  about  let  it  pass, 

To  Admiral  Vernon's  and  Ogle's  praise. 

For  twelve  hours'  space  we  bombarded  the  town, 

Before  we  brought  their  proud  spirits  down ; 

We  fir'd  so  smart  that  they  thought  we  were  mad, 

At  length  to  surrender  they  were  glad. 

We  did  so  cannonade,  and  such  breaches  we  made, 

And  many  of  their  houses  set  in  a  flame  ; 

They  did  submit  to  fate,  and  the  town  surrendered] 

To  Admiral  Vernon,  the  scourge  of  Spain, 

The  Shrewsbury  she  did  suffer  most, 

And  many  of  her  sailors  were  lost ; 

Her  cable  broke,  on  the  Castles  she  drove, 

And  there  expected  she  would  have  stove ; 

But  kind  Providence  stood  in  her  defence  : 

Much  shatter'd  at  last  she  clear'd  her  way. 

Her  jolly  sailors  bold,  those  noble  hearts  of  gold, 

All  the  time  shew'd  the  Spaniards  gallant  play. 

Don  Blass  with  six  ships  in  the  harbour  lay, 
And  soon  we  shew'd  him  British  play ; 
We  made  that  proud  and  hectoring  Don 
Coward-like  from  his  ship  to  run  ; 
Tho'  his  ship  he  forsook,  two  captains  we  took 
And  unto  England  brought  them  home ; 
Let  th'  insulting  foe  and  proud  Don  know 
Vernon  can  conquer  wherever  he  comes. 

Six  galleons  did  there  remain, 
Which  by  our  fleet  were  burnt  or  ta'en  : 
And  tho'  their  treasure  was  on  shore 
Yet  we  found  a  sufficient  store ; 


VERNON'S   GLORY  ,83 

For  plunder,  my  boys,  did  crown  our  joys 
Xr  that  strong  place  we  had  won  : 
W    d>d  r  v!  l°andProar  and  booze  it  on  shore, 
And  forgot  all  the  dangers  we  had  run. 

In  the  king's  store-house  we  found 
I  he  value  of  several  thousand  pounds, 
Which  with  great  joy  we  brought  away, 

gffl  ^Jtf^ «  ufcome  near, 

When  we  hau  all  their  treasure  seiz'd 
\nd  freely  plunder'd  where  we  pleasrd, 
\nd  none  but  rubb.sh  did  reman,, 

K2S5^«SS^  the  ground: 

^clw^^ow^ibey  did  insult  us  so, 

What  noble  Admiral  Vernon  can  do. 

Our  iollv  tars,  brave,  noble  hearts, 

\nd  the  brave  marines  did  play  their  parts  ; 

The  officers  their  orders  gave 

Whirr,  the  men  performed  as  brave. 

The    never  tf  d  Sinch,  nor  gave  back  an  ,nch, 

But  sweet  -^^tot'.hemouth  of  a  gun, 

For  the  proud  Queen  of  Spain  w< |  care  not  a  fart  ! 
For  Carthageen  she  may  break  her  heart  , 
Of  Don  Blass.  that  cowardly  too  , 

To  Admiral  Vernon  and  Ogle's  name. 

Come,  brave  boys,  a  health  begin, 
And  fill  your  glasses  to  the  brim  , 
A  health  to  Admiral  V2rnon  brave  , 
To  Sir  Chaloner  Ogle  another  well  have  . 


1 84  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

To  each  jolly  tar  and  marine  that  was  there, 
Whose  courage  the[n]  was  bravely  seen  ; 
To  Lestock,  Commodore,  and  many  thousands  more, 
Who  assisted  at  taking  of  Carthageen. 


THE  SAPHIRAH  [sic]  IN  TRIUMPH:    OR,  BRITISH 

VALOR  DISPLAY D. 

Compos'd  by  James  Craft,  who  lost  his  arm  in  the 

action. 

Come  you  jovial  British  fellows,  listen,  pray,  to  what  I  write, 

Honour  jolly  English  sailors,  for  their  nation  they  do  fight; 

It  was  with  courage  most  undaunted  from  Port  Rhode  the  Sapphire 

sail'd, 
By  mishap  our  cable  parted,  but  we  soon  the  Spaniards  quell'd. 

A  full  intent  to  batter  Vigo,  our  full  force  was  only  forty  guns, 
Which  to  them  does  plainly  show,  sir,  what  courage  in  the  English 

runs ; 
With  spreading  sails  we  plough'd  the  ocean,  the  seas  indeed  ran 

mountains  high, 
Not  (earing  death  to  gain  promotion,  with  proud  Spain  our  valour 

try. 

All  along  their  coast  we  sailed,  the  wind  it  blowed  very  hard  ; 
Our  main-top-sail  yard  it  failed,  but  we  it  did  not  regard. 
We  did  soon  their  harbour  enter,  they  prepared  for  us  were, 
And  we  boldly  in  did  venture  without  any  dread  or  fear. 

As  soon  as  ever  we  came  nigh  them  they  did  fire  at  us  first ; 
We  not  wanting  to  pass  by  them  immediately  our  anchor  cast. 
And  up  went  our  bloody  pennant  and  defy'd  their  cannon-ball, 
We  made  to  run  both  landlord  and  tenant,  and  behind  to  leave 
their  all. 

No  quarters  from  them  we  requir'd,  they  did  see  us  boldly  bent ; 

Kill  or  be  kill'd  we  designed,  that  indeed  was  our  intent. 

Then  our  cannon  roar'd  like  thunder,  sweeter  musick  who  could 

hear? 
They  did  make  our  foes  to  wonder,  fill'd  their  hearts  with  dread 

and  fear. 


THE  SAPHIRAH  IN    TRIUMPH   185 

Their  privateers  at  anchor  lying  we  did  sink  before  their  face; 
Women  with  their  children  crying  from  the  town  did  run  a-pace. 
By  us  their  prison  was  confounded  :  to  some  it  proved  a  happy 

day  ; 
Such  as  were  not  kill'd  or  wounded  took  to  their  heels  and  run 

away. 

Their  nunnery  did  feel  our  fury,  their  blind  zeal  could  not  them 

save  : 
Some   in   confusion   and   great  hurry  were  sent  by  us  to  their 

grave. 
About  their  ears  their  houses  tumbled,  which  no  doubt  did  grieve 

them  so;^  ; 
Was  ever  haughty  Spain  so  humbled  by  one  small  ship  as  now 

before  ? 

Two  thousand  shot  and  more  we  fir'd  at  their  churches,  forts,  and 

town, 
It  made  us  laugh  till  we  were  tir'd  to  see  their  houses  tumble 

down  : 
Seventeen  hundred  and  forty-four,  sir,  January  the  fifteenth  day, 
That  we  made  the  Spaniards  rue,  sir,  our  most  noble  British 

play. 

We  had  in  this  bold  action  one  man  killed,  and  no  more ; 
Which  I  think  was  enough  to  vex  'em,  they  having  many  in  their 

gore. 
Had  the  day  but  longer  lasted,  and  our  ship  not  damnify'd, 
We'd  made  them  surrender,  we  protested,  or  would  all  have  surely 

dy'd. 

We  then  soon  for  Lisbon  sailed,  where  we  got  wine  our  hearts  to 

cheer. 
At  Vigo  widows  their  fates  bewailed,  and  curst  the  time  that  we 

came  there. 
I  wish  that  all  our   brave   commanders,  who  sail  the  seas  for 

Britain's  right, 
May  like  bold  Holmes  prove  Alexanders,  not  fearing  death  when 

they  do  fight. 

May  he  meet    with  a  just    treatment    from    our   nation   for   the 

same, 
For  so  bold  and  brave  defeatment  none  but  cowards  can  him 

blame. 


1 86  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

Little  Laughton,  our  third  lieutenant,  did  at  that  time  great  valour 

show ; 
King  and  country's  bold  defendant,  beloved  by  all  that  does  him 

know. 

Bring  us  wine,  let  it  be  sherry,  fill  the  glass  up  to  the  brink ; 
Drown  all  sorrows  and  be  merry  ;  to  our  noble  captain  drink. 
Pray  God  send   our   royal   master  George  the  Second  long  to 

reign, 
For  to  meet  with  no  disaster,  but  the  victory  always  gain. 


ADMIRAL  MATTHEWS'  ENGAGEMENT  AGAINST 
THE   COMBINED  FLEETS  OF  FRANCE  AND 

SPAIN 

Brave  Admiral  Matthews  has  been  on  the  main, 
With  a  true  British  heart,  against  France  and  Spain  ; 
Resolving  to  fight  for  old  England  once  more, 
And  make  them  knock  under  before  he  gives  o'er  ; 
For  there  never  was  such  a  bold  fleet,  as  they  say, 
Sent  out  by  Old  England  this  many  a  day. 

He  had  not  long  been  on  the  sea,  it  is  true, 

Before  [that]  in  sight  there  appear'd  in  his  view 

Twenty-eight  sail  of  the  French  and  proud  Spain, 

Who  swiftly  w[ere]  sailing  along  the  salt  main. 

Then  he  cry'd,  '  My  brave  boys,  look,  see  how  they  ride  ! 

I  hope  in  small  time  we  shall  soon  cool  their  pride.' 

We  hoisted  our  sails,  and  away  then  we  went, 
With  our  guns  all  ready,  and  hearts  likewise  bent, 
Until  that  we  come  to  the  view  of  them  all  ; 
Then  strait  our  brave  admiral  unto  us  did  call, 
At  the  word  of  command  to  make  ready  with  speed, 
'  For  I  think  the  proud  Dons  will  fight  us  indeed.' 

But  the  wind  prov'd  contrary,  we  could  not  pursue, 
Altho'  that  we  had  them  so  full  in  our  view  ; 
And  for  to  deceive  us  they  did  lay  in  wait, 
Thinking  we  should  follow  them  up  to  the  Straits  : 
Though  our  good  God  was  pleas'd  to  alter  the  wind, 
Yet  fortune  unto  us  it  proved  unkind. 


BRAVE  CAPTAIN  HORNSBY     .87 

There  is  an  o,d  proverb  I've  ***«£  £  nQne  , 

Until  that  we  came  within  pistol-shot, 

Linn  should  we  not.-' 

JESSES  ^l-^s  1 

Which  made  our  cannons  [to]  play,  oomu 

Buffer  that  misfortune,  and  all  that  foul  play, 
He  held rem si*  hours  in  hot  battle  that  day. 

The  nigh,  being  come,  *5£$Z2!I££Z*'. 

SSsS53S£«s=. 

And  if  e^er  they  m.o  our  f.esemje :  dc ,  come 
We'll  make  our  cannons  play    Bruons,  smi 

Then  straightway  we  left  them  -^^g^ 
Whilst  we  are  carousing  along  the  salt ^mair^ 

Pray  God  bless  our  fleet,  and  his  Majesty  too, 
\nd  grant  them  success  wherever  they  go. 
Concluding  as  this,  and  my  song  to  end, 
fn  Matthews'  brave  ship  these  verses  were  pennd. 

A   NEW  SONG  IN  PRAISE   OF  BRAVE    CAPTAIN 

HORNSB  Y. 

Come  all  you  brave  sailors  that  plough  on  the  main, 
Sd  hear  of  the  brave  Captain  Hornsby  by  name  , 
Hot  bravely  he  acted  and  play  d  his  °jmjpart, 
That  he  made  the  proud  Frenchmen  to  quake  in 


1 88  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

The  French  captain  came  up,  and  said, '  You  English  dog,  strike. 
'  Not  so,'  said  brave  Hornsby,  '  I  first  chuse  to  fight, 
To  strike  to  a  Frenchman  1  hold  it  so  base, 
That  I  rather  chuse  to  die  in  this  place.' 

The  Frenchmen  then  boarded  his  vessel  straightway, 
And  brave  Captain  Hornsby  did  shew  them  fine  play  ; 
He  fought  them  five  hours,  five  hours  or  more, 
'Till  thirty-six  Frenchmen  lay  dead  in  their  gore. 

All  the  men  that  he  had  on  his  ship  were  but  eight, 
And  yet  to  a  Frenchman  he  scorn'd  for  to  strike  ; 
Tho'  he  had  but  one  man  for  the  Frenchman's  ten, 
He  both  burnt  his  vessel  and  drown'd  all  his  men. 

Come,  all  ye  brave  sailors  that  plough  on  the  main, 
Remember  the  brave  Captain  Hornsby,  by  name  ; 
And  if  that  a  Frenchman  commands  you  to  strike, 
Give  answer  like  Hornsby,  you  first  chuse  to  fight. 

If  you  take  a  good  courage,  and  have  a  strong  faith, 
Trust  in  your  Creator,  he'll  ne'er  you  forsake ; 
If  you  have  but  one  man  for  the  Frenchman's  ten, 
You  may  both  sink  his  vessel  and  drown  all  his  men. 

Now  brave  Captain  Hornsby,  as  I  have  been  told, 
Has  got  as  a  present  a  medal  of  gold  ; 
Besides  a  fine  chain  of  gold  so  bright, 
Because  the  proud  French  he  so  bravely  did  fight. 

Likewise  every  man  in  his  ship,  as  we  hear, 
Has  had  five  pounds  paid  him  down  for  his  share  : 
The  boys  forty  shillings  a  piece  they  have  got 
For  standing  so  bravely  against  the  French  shot. 

Now  all  you  brave  heroes  that  heareth  this  song, 
I  beg  you  excuse  if  any  thing  be  wrong ; 
For  I  am  no  poet,  nor  scholar  I  swear, 
But  I  love  loyal  subjects  I  vow  and  declare. 

So  let's  all  in  the  praise  of  Hornsby  now  sing, 

For  whom  bonfires  did  blaze,  and  bells  they  did  ring  ; 

To  hear  of  this  battle  so  gallantly  got, 

And  he  and  his  men  so  preserved  from  the  shot. 


CAPTAIN  COBB'S  BRAVERY       189 

And  now  to  conclude  ot'  brave  Hornsby  so  bold, 

I  wish  he  was  master  of  a  million  of  gold  ; 

For  fighting  so  boldly  against  the  proud  French, 

And  laying  them  low  in  a  watery  trench. 

Tho'  he  had  but  one  man  to  the  Frenchman's  ten, 

Yet  he  sunk  both  his  vessel,  and  drowned  all  his  men. 


CAPTAIN  COBB'S  BRAVERY. 

Captain  Cobb  in  Lynn  doth  dwell,  a  man  of  worthy  fame, 
He  went  on  board  the  bold  Bacchus,  a  ship  of  lovely  fame,  fal 
lal  Ial,  etc. 

From  Lynn  to  Port  there  we  were  bound,  and  for  to  load  with 

wine ; 
And  as  we  were  returning  home,  a  privateer  espyed. 

Our  master  bold  said,  '  Every  man  stand  true  [un]to  his  gun  ; 
And  let  us  give  them  a  full  broadside,  and  see  if  we  can  them 
shun.' 

No  sooner  we  had  fired  at  them,  but  the  Spaniards  returned  the 

same ; 
We  tacked  our  ship  about  again,  and  gave  them  [a]  thump  for  their 

pain. 

The   second   broadside  the  Spaniard  [fired]    they   wounded  our 

captain  sore, 
1  For  quarters,  quarters,'  our  captain  [cried]  ;  '  No,  damn  it,'  the 

boatswain  swore, 

'  Go  you  down  into  your  cabin,  and  leave  all  things  to  me  ; 
I'll    warrant    I'll   make    them   all   stand   true,  and  will  gain  the 
victory.' 

We  had  no  more  than  fourteen  men,  and  two  boys  which  made 

sixteen  ; 
We  fought  with  a  hundred  and  twenty-four  men,  and  cleared  our 

way  of  them. 


i9o  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

There  were  thirty  of  them  boarded  us,  a  dreadful  sight  to  see, 
I  could  not  get  my  gun  to  fire,  and  sore  it  did  grieve  me. 

A  blunderbuss  I  took  in  hand,  and  did  them  sweetly  bang ; 
Some  we  drove  into  the  sea,  and  some  on  the  deck  lay  slain. 

And  the  rest  of  them  that  was  left  alive,  their  arms  we  took  from 

them  ; 
And  stowed  them  close  down  in  their  hold,  till  to  England  we 

came. 

We  began  at  four  in  the  afternoon,  and  fought  while  eight  at 

night ; 
And  before  we  had  fired  at  her  larboard  side  on  her  we  'spyed  a 

light. 

No  sooner  [had]  we  fired  at  her,  no  more  of  her  we  could  see, 
God  knows  whether  we  sunk  her,  or  whether  she  run  away. 

The   Heavens  above   alone   did    us   love,    o'er   our  enemies  to 

prevail ; 
So  we  set  sail  and  away  we  came,  with  a  fine  and  pleasant  gale. 

When  to  old  England  we  come,  and  our  merchants  do  hear  of 

the  same, 
I  hope  they  will  some  kindness  shew,  and  reward  us  for  our  pains. 

If  every  Englishman  like  us  would  fight  upon  the  sea, 
They  need  not  fear  to  sail  the  seas,  nor  to  face  the  enemy. 


THE   PRINCESS  ROYALS  ESCAPE   FROM  THE 
GOODWIN  SANDS. 

Come  all  you  jolly  sailors  that  to  the  seas  are  bent, 
I'll  tell  you  of  a  story  that  shall  make  your  hearts  relent, 
It's  of  the  Princess  Royal,  that  gallant  ship  of  fame, 
Commanded  by  bold  Captain  Lee  by  name. 

On  the  seventh  of  February  from  the  Nore  we  did  sail, 
Our  topsails  a  flying  with  a  fine  and  pleasant  gale, 
But  no  further  then  the  Gun-fleet  that  night  could  we  go 
Where  we  lost  our  pinnance  and  three  men  in  her  also. 


THE   PRINCESS  ROYAL  191 

So  then  for  the  Gun-fleet  we  quickly  did  sail, 
All  for  the  Downs  with  a  fine  and  pleasant  gale, 
And  when  we  came  down  there  our  orders  were  so. 
No  further  then  the  Downs  our  ship  was  to  go, 

And  there  for  to  wait  to  join  our  fleet, 
All  with  Sir  John  Norris  the  French  fleet  to  meet. 
On  the  seventh  day  our  fleet  they  came  in, 
Expecting  at  Dungeness  the  French  fleet  to  trim. 

So  then  from  the  Downs  we  quickly  did  sail, 
All  for  Dungeness  the  French  to  prevail, 
But  then  off  Folkstone  we  was  fore'd  to  bring  to, 
Where  the  French  fleet  did  appear  in  our  view. 

Our  captain  on  board  the  admiral  he  went, 
To  let  him  know  our  losses  it  was  our  full  intent, 
The  admiral  he  order'd  us  to  Spithead  with  speed, 
But  our  thiler  being  broke  we  turn'd  back  again. 

Four  anchors  we  lost  which  grieved  us  full  sore, 
To  think  we  had  but  one  anchor  and  cable  more, 
So  we  stear'd  for  the  Downs  and  when  we  came  there 
We  let  go  our  last  anchor  in  despair. 

Right  on  the  Goodwin  Sands  O  the  wind  it  did  blow, 
Which  fill'd  our  whole  ship's  company  all  full  of  woe. 
But  thanks  be  to  God  our  cable  it  did  hold, 
Which  saved  the  lives  of  so  many  sailors  bold. 

So  now  my  lads  since  the  danger  it  is  o'er, 
How  merry  we  will  be  boys  if  e'er  we  get  on  shore. 
With  full  flowing  bowls  the  bumpers  shall  go  round 
With  our  lasses  upon  our  knees  our  sorrows  to  drown. 

So  now  to  conclude  and  end  my  song, 
It  was  a  brisk  young  sailor  unto  the  ship  belong'd 
It  was  a  brisk  young  sailor  that  these  lines  did  make, 
And  o'er  a  can  of  flip  his  heart  would  never  ake. 


i92  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 


THE  LOSS  OF  THE    VICTORY  MAN-OF-WAR. 

Good  people  all,  pray  give  attention,  to  this  fatal  tragedy, 
Which  I  am  bound  to  mention  of  the  gallant  Victory  : 
Fourteen  hundred  souls  did  perish,  and  are  to  the  bottom  gone, 
Oh  !  the  dismal  grief  and  horror  of  their  widows  left  alone. 

When  we  first  from  Spithead  sailed,  convoy  unto  Lisbon  bound, 
They  with  good  flip  and  punch  regaled  a  brave  new  ship  both 

right  and  sound  : 
A  hundred  and  ten  guns  she  mounted,  all  of  brass  so  smart  and 

clean, 
The  best  ship  in  the  Navy  counted,  but  alas  !  no  more  is  seen. 

But  the  voyage  proved  fatal,  as  by  the  sequel  we  shall  find, 
For  as  she  was  home  returning,  she  was  off  Scilly  left  behind 
In  a  dreadful  storm  of  lightning,  and  of  hail  and  thunder  too, 
And  has  never  since  been  heard  of,  the  fatherless  have  cause  to  rue. 

From  Alderney  we've   information  that  they  heard  that  stormy 

night, 
At  least  ninety  guns  to  fire  which  did  them  something  affright : 
But  as  the  more  the  storm  increased  it  gave  them  more  room 

to  guess 
That  some  ship  upon  the  ocean,  was  in  sad  and  deep  distress. 

We  saw  floating  some  days  after  some  spare  yards  were  drove 

on  shore, 
On  which  was  the  name  Victory,  this  gave  us  suspicion  more  : 
That  the  noble  ship  was  stranded  on  the  Gaskets  was  our  fear, 
Long  we  waited  with  impatience,  but  no  news  of  them  could  hear. 

The  brave  gallant  Admiral  Balchen  with  fourteen  hundred  men 

beside, 
If  she's  lost,  went  to  the  bottom,  and  all  at  once  together  died : 
Oh  !  the  dismal  grief  and  horror  if  one  had  been  there  to  see, 
How  they  all    were   struck   with    horror   when   sunk   down   the 

Victory. 

O  !  the  sad  and  dismal  story,  I'm  griev'd  when  I  the  same  relate, 
So  many  blasted  in  their  glory  and  at  once  shared  the  same  fate : 
Some  thinking  on  their  wives  and  children,  and  some  on  their 

parents  dear, 
Sunk  to  the  bottom  in  a  moment,  and  no  time  to  say  a  prayer. 


LOSS   OF   THE    VICTORY  193 

O  Vktorv  '  thou  wast  unlucky,  but  once  before  was  out  at  sea, 
In  the  mght  run  foul    of  the  Lion,  and  her  carved  work  took 

NowThou  art  gone  to  the  bottom  with  a  jovial  company 
An  admiral,  marines  and  sailors,  most  unhappy  Victory  ! 

Oh  '  the  erief  of  mournful  widows,  and  their  children  fatherless, 
And  the  grief  of  tender  parents,  is  more  than  what  I  can  ev  press  : 
Some  lamenting  for  their  sweethearts  overwhelm*  with  grief  we 

Eachone  laments  his  dear  relation,  Oh  !  the  fatal  Victory  ! 

Children  crying  for  their  fathers,  widows  weeping  in  distress, 
God  will  surely  be  their  comfort,  and  protect  the  fatherless. 
He'll  be  a  husband  to  the  widow  that  loves  honest  industry, 
And  does  give  them  His  protection  ;  farewell  fatal  Victory  . 

DISCONSOLATE  JUDTS  LAMENTATION  FOR 
THE  ABSENCE  OF  HER  TRUE  LOVE  JOHNNY, 
ON  BOARD  THE  VICTORY,  WITH  ADMIRAL 
BALCHEN,   NO  IV  MISSING. 

Tune  of  Down  by  a  Crystal  River  Side. 

Come  pity  me,  young  maidens  all, 
Who  am  brought  into  wretched  thrall, 
My  love  was  prest  away  to  sea, 
And  is  on  board  the  Victory. 

When  of  him  I  did  take  my  leave, 
He  said,  '  Dear  Judy,  do  not  grieve  ; 
Altho'  I  absent  from  you  be, 
Stout  is  our  ship,  the  Victory. 

'  Brave  Balchen  is  a  gallant  man, 
And  will  conduct  us  safe  to  land  ; 
Then  mv  dear  Judy  1  shall  see, 
When  safe  returns  the  Victory: 

Ah  !  John,  indeed  my  heart  did  fail, 
When  you  to  Lisbon  was  to  sail, 
For  dangers  they  are  great  at  sea, 
Oh  !  now  where  is  the  Victory. 

u 


194  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

O  John,  my  lovely  sailor  dear, 
My  heart  is  sore  opprest  with  fear ; 
A  letter,  true  love,  send  to  me, 
From  on  board  the  Victory. 

No  cruel  balls  has  hurt  my  dear, 
No  fatal  rocks  you  have  come  near, 
Nor  taken  by  an  enemy, 
You  nor  the  gallant  Victory. 

Nine  hundred  men  on  board  you  have, 
A  jolly  crew  both  stout  and  brave 
As  ever  did  go  out  to  sea, 
God  send  safe  home  the  Victory. 

Dear  Johnny,  I  at  Portsmouth  wait, 
And  watch  for  you  early  and  late, 
Wishing  each  moment  for  to  see 
Come  sailing  in  the  Victory. 


ENGLAND'S   GLORY,   OR    THE  FRENCH  KING 

STRIPPED. 

Being  a  new  song  compos'd  by  Capt.  Roberts,  in 
praise  of  those  bold  sailors  belonging  to  the 
Prince  Frederick,  and  Duke  Privateers,  who 
took  the  two  French  ships  with  forty  five  waggon 
loads  of  money  on  board,  which  was  brought 
through  the  City  in  triumph  to  the  Tower. 

Tune  of  Avast !  Honest  Mess-mate. 


Come  all  you  jolly  seamen,  that's  willing  to  enter 
On  board  of  the  Duke,  your  lives  for  to  venture, 
On  board  of  the  Duke,  she's  called  by  name, 
She  cruizes  the  seas  for  old  England's  fame. 

Fal,  etc. 


THE   LUCKY  SAILOR  195 

The  fourth  day  of  May  from  the  Downs  we  set  sail, 
O,  we  were  blest  with  a  very  fine  gale  : 
And  with  the  Prince  Frederick  being  our  Commodore, 
We  steered  away,  boys,  for  the  Canary  shore. 

Fal,  etc. 

The  tenth  day  of  July,  it  being  very  clear, 
We  espy'd  three  ships  belonging  to  Mounsieur  ; 
O,  these  three  ships  were  coming  from  Peru, 
With  gold  and  silver,  boys,  all  in  our  view. 

Fal,  etc. 

A  broadside  from  these  French  dogs  we  did  receive, 
But  quickly  two  for  one  O  we  did  them  give  : 
But  then  at  length  they  would  no  longer  fight, 
'  Our  ships  are  a  sinking '  for  quarter  they  cry'd. 

Fal,  etc. 

We  hoisted  out  our  pinnace,  went  to  them  straitway, 
We  boarded  two  of  their  ships  the  very  same  day  : 
We  brought  all  the  prisoners  on  board  our  own  ship, 
Our  hearts  then  within  us  began  for  to  leap. 

Fal,  etc. 

Then  we  went  to  Kingsale,  being  the  nearest  place, 
That  we  durst  go  to  for  to  show  our  face  : 
Where  we  had  good  wine  and  punch  in  gollore, 
And  rum  and  brandy,  boys,  all  in  good  store. 

Fal,  etc. 


THE  LUCKY  SAILOR  .   OR   THE  SAILOR'S  INVITA- 
TION  TO   GO    WITH  ADMIRAL   ANSON 

Come  jolly  sailors,  join  with  me, 

Come  jolly  sailors,  join  with  me, 

To  fight  with  Anson  for  renown, 

That  we  the  French  pride  may  pull  down  ! 

We'll  take  'em  all  upon  the  seas  ; 

We'li  take  em  all  upon  the  seas  ; 

We'll  make  'em  strike  where'er  wc  meet. 

Or  serve  'em  all  as  we've  done  these. 


i96  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

My  boys,  you  heard  what  we  have  done,  (bis) 
Ten  sail  of  men-of-war  we  took, 
And  made  the  merchant-men  to  run  : 
Our  admiral  he  ordered  then,  (bis) 
Three  men-of-war  to  chase  'em  all, 
To  sink  and  take  whate'er  they  can. 

The  Centurion  first  led  the  van,  (bis) 
And  held  'em  till  we  came  up  ; 
Then  we  their  hides  did  sorely  bang, 
Our  broadsides  we  on  them  did  pour,  (bis) 
We  gave  the  French  a  sower  dir'ench, 
And  soon  their  topsails  made  them  lower. 

And  when  they  saw  our  fleet  come  up,  (bis) 
They  for  quarters  call'd  without  delay, 
And  their  colours  they  that  moment  struck 
O  !  how  we  did  rejoice  and  sing,  (bis) 
To  see  such  prizes  we  had  took, 
For  ourselves  and  for  George  our  King. 

O  !  now,  my  boys,  I'm  come  on  shore,  (bis) 
I'll  make  you  drink  before  we  part ; 
Such  luck  I  never  had  before. 
Here  is  a  health  to  those  brave  men,  (bis) 
That  did  command  this  noble  fleet, 
Bold  Anson  and  brave  Warren. 

My  boys  our  prizes  is  arrived,  (bis) 

Which  when  the  people  they  did  see: 

It  did  their  very  hearts  revive. 

With  joy  and  mirth  we  spent  the  night,  (bis) 

In  drinking  loyal  healths  all  round, 

It  was  such  a  welcome  sight. 

Our  ships  are  all  a  fitting  up,  (bis) 

Again  with  Anson  we  will  go, 

I  wish  we  may  have  but  good  luck._ 

My  boy,  I'd  have  you  to  go  too,  (bis) 

For  Anson  is  a  lucky  man, 

Where'er  he  comes  he  makes  'em  rue. 

This  is  the  second  time  you've  seen  (bis) 
The  waggon  loads  of  money  come, 
And  all  taken  by  brave  Anson. 
Come  now,  my  boys,  drink  off  a  glass  j  (bts 
Let's  not  forget  now  we're  come  home, 
Each  bold  sailor's  pretty  lass. 


ADMIRAL   HAWKE  197 

TIT  FOR    TAT     A   SEA   KICK  FOR  A  LAND  CUFF. 

Being  the  sailors'  song  upon  our  having  a  Hawke's 
'  eye    on    the     French    fleet,     the    fourteenth    oi 
October  last  [i747]- 

i 

Rine  rin?  out  our  bells  !  and  to  Calais  from  Dos 
Let  our  cannons  loud  roar  carry  France  the  news  over, 
That  the  balance  of  land  and  sea  war  we've  brought  home. 
\nd  our  prizes,  at  Portsmouth,  pay  their  Bergen-opzoom 
So  Huzzah  !  to  Kins  George,  boys ;  long  long  may  he  reign. 
By  the  right  of  old  England,  long  lord  of  the  main  ! 
So  Huzzah  !  to  King  George,  etc. 

Now  hark  !  and  you'll  hear  (and  with  truth  'twill  be  told) 
How  the  seas  have  been  swept  by  his  true  hearts  of  gold  . 
In  the  month  of  October,  to  West  Indies  bound, 
\  fleet  so  beerowded  with  numbers  we  found 
Tho'  our  ken  could  not  count  'em,  our  first  chasing  gun 
Observ'd  em  less  forward  to  fight  than  to  run. 
Tho'  our  ken  could  not  count  'em,  etc. 

All,  all  hands  aloft,  and  away  'fore  the  wind, 
Full  sail  sped  their  merchants,  from  convoys  behind  ; 
Yet,  to  do  their  tall  ships  the  true  honour  we  owe  em, 
Tho'  to  beat  was  above  'em,  to  fly  was  below  em. 
But  their  cargoes,  in  danger,  had  no  time  to  .* al k  ; 
So  like  pigeons  they  flew  from  our  bold  British  Hawk. 
But  their  cargoes,  in  danger,  etc. 

Now  broadsides  to  broadsides,  smash  !  thro'  and  thro'  boring, 
Made  the  sea  seem  a  forest  of  lions  all  roaring  ! 
But  the  Seierris  bruised  ribs  felt  our  shot  fly  so  sore, 
That  her  loud  fifty  mouths  never  spoke  a  word  more. 
So  silene'd  we  left  her,  without  more  concern, 
To  be  catch'd,  as  we  saw,  by  our  frigates  astern. 
So  iiUncd  we  left  her,  etc. 


198  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 


Of  their  Trident  our  Devonshire  came  alongside, 
And  souse  !  in  her  guts,  such  a  dose  did  she  hide, 
That  the  rummaging  pills  almost  work'd  her  to  death, 
For  she  soon,  like  the  Severn,  lay  gasping  for  breath. 
Then  bounce  !  came  their  Terrible— foul  on  a  Tartar  ; 
But  she  too  sung  small,  till  she  cry'd  out  for  quarter. 
Then  bounce  !  came  their  Terrible,  etc. 

6 

Now  shatter'd  and  batter'd  (Morbleu  !  such  a  sight  !) 
Their  'Thunder  knock'd  under,  and  stole  off  by  night ; 
When  six  of  their  squadron,  that  scarcely  could  creep' 
We  lugg'd  and  tugg'd  home,  in  our  harbours  to  sleep ' 
And  so  large  were  their  hulks,  tho'  we  ply'd  'em  with  rubbing 
To  be  sure  their  thick  hides  took  a  good  deal  of  drubbing. 
And  so  large  were  their  hulks,  etc. 


And  now,  the  next  year,  when  the  prizes  we've  made 
By  our  own  hands  are  mann'dout,  we'll  drive  a  French  trade 
While  the  sea  is  our  market,  for  squadrons  we'll  barter, 
And  give  for  first  rates  only  bullets  and  quarter  ! 
So,  Huzzah  !  to  King  George,  boys  ;  long,  long  may  he  reign, 
By  the  right  of  old  England,  long  lord  of  the  main. 
So,  Huzzah  !  etc. 


8 


While  our  salt  water  walls  so  begird  us  about, 
And  our  cruisers,  and  bruisers,  keep  good  looking  out, 
What  force  need  old  England  to  fear  can  offend  her, 
From  France,  or  from  Spain,  or  a  Popish  Pretender? 
So,  Huzzah  !  to  King  George,  boys ;  long,  long  may  he  reign, 
By  the  right  of  old  England,  long  lord  of  the  main. 
So  Huzzah  .'  etc. 


ADMIRAL    KNOWLES  ,99 


A   NEW  SONG   ON  ADMIRAL    KNOWLS    TAk< 

PORT  LOU  IS. 

Tune  of  Duke  of  Lorain  and  the  Princess  Royal. 

Let  every  loyal  Briton  sing 
Prosperity  to  George  our  King  ; 
He  that  refuses  let  him  swing, 
As  many  has  done  before  him  ; 
But  I  shall  raise  my  chearfull  voice. 
Let  Englishmen  with  me  rejoice, 
For  valiant  Knowls,  huzza  !  brave  boys, 
The  sailor  does  admire. 

Hispaniola  and  Louis  Port 

Afforded  Englishmen  brave  sport. 

Brave  news,  brave  news  for  the  British  Court, 

Those  places  both  are  taken  ; 

We've  taken  Pondicherry  too. 

Another  scene  appears  in  view  : 

Jago  de  Cuba  soon  must  rue, 

If  I  am  not  mistaken. 

It  is  such  valiant  acts  as  these 

That  makes  Mounsieur  cry  out  for  peace  : 

Morblue  hostilities  pray  cease 

And  I'll  return  all  Flanders  ! 

Let  all  true  Biitons  fill  their  bowls, 

A  health  to  that  hero  Admiral  Knowls, 

A  health  to  our  Brittish  sailors  bold 

That  fought  with  this  brave  comander. 

Another  glass  to  the  sailors  brave 

That  with  him  such  proofs  of  valour  gave  ; 

Confusion  to  the  rebel  slave 

That  does  refuse  to  drink  it  ! 

Let  all  true  Britons  fill  their  bowls  : 

A  health  to  hero  Admiral  Knowls, 

A  health  to  our  British  sailors  bold 

That  fought  with  this  brave  commander. 


2oo  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 


A   NEW  SONG. 

Sung  by  Hannah  Snell,  alias  James  Gray,  at  the  New-Wells 

Goodman's  Fields. 


Tune  of  Come  and  listen  to  my  Ditty,  etc. 


I. 

All  ye  noble  British  spirits  that  midst  dangers  glory  sought, 
Let  it  lessen  not  your  merit  that  a  woman  bravely  fought : 
Cupid  slily  first  inroll'd  me,  Pallas  next  her  force  did  bring, 
Press'd  my  heart  to  venture  boldly  for  my  love  and  for  my  King. 

II. 

Sailorlike,  to  fear  a  stranger,  straight  I  ventured  on  the  main, 

Facing  death  and  every  danger,  love  and  glory  to  obtain  ; 

Tell  me,  you  who  hear  my  story,  what  could  more  my  courage 

move? — 
George's  name  inspired  with  glory,  William  was  the  man  I  lov'd. 


III. 

When  Irom  William  Susan  parted  she  but  wept  and  shook  her 

hand  ; 
I,  more  bold  (tho'   tender-hearted),  left   my  friends   and   native 

land ; 
Bravely  by  his  side,  maintaining  British  rights,  I  shed  my  blood, 
Still  to  him  unknown  remaining,  watch'd  to  serve  and  do  him 

good. 

IV. 

In  the  midst  of  blood  and  slaughter,  bravely  fighting  for  my 

King, 
Facing  death  from  every  quarter,  fame  and  conquest  home  to 

bring  ; 
Sure  you'll  own  'tis  more  than  common,  and  the  world  proclaim 

it  too, 
Never  yet  did  any  woman  more  for  love  and  glory  do. 


/MPKESSMEi\  r  20 1 


THE  LIGHTERMAN'S  PRENTICE   PREST  AND 

SENT  TO   SEA. 

A  prentice  1  was  at  Wapping-new-stairs, 
And  a  smart  young  lad  was  I ; 

But  that  old  blackguard  old  \V d, 

He  inform'd,  and  had  forty  shillings  for  mi. 

It  was  on  the  last  day  of  February, 

In  the  year  of  fifty-five  : 

He  had  me  taken  out  of  bed; 

When  my  friends  heard  it,  lord  !  how  they  cry'd. 

My  mother  and  my  cousin  both 

They  on  board  of  the  tender  came  with  speed. 

And  thro'^the  grates  to  them  I  talk'd, 

It  was  enough  to  make  any  heart  to  bleed. 

My  mother  and  my  cousin  both, 

They  in  a  boat  did  go  ashore. 

Then  from  the  Tower  we  set  sail, 

For  the  Yarmouth  rideing  at  the  Nore, 

In  happen'd  on  a  Sunday  morning 

We  arrived  at  the  Nore ; 

The  commodore  fird  his  signal  gun 

For  the  women  all  to  go  ashore. 

And  when  unto  the  ship  I  went, 

They  put  me  in  a  great  surprize  ; 

There  I  heard  some  swearing  and  some  cursing, 

And  some  damning  their  precious  eyes, 

To  think  that  the  commodore  fir'd  his  signal 

For  all  their  wives  to  go  ashore  ; 

There  was  some  crying  and  some  sniffling, 

Crying  'My  dear,  I  shall  see  you  no  more.' 

Then  from  the  Nore  we  did  set  sail, 

And  unto  Spithead  we  was  bound. 

It  was  a  pretty  sight  to  see 

The  lasses  lin'd  round  Portsmouth  town. 

Then  from  the  Yarmouth  I  was  sent 

On  board  of  Captain,  so-call'd  by  name  ; 

There  I  fell  sick  on  board  of  her, 

And  to  Gosport  hospital  sent  for  the  same. 

There  for  three  long  months  I  stay'd, 

And  very  bad  I  was  indeed ; 

But  I  got  well  and  away  I  went 

On  board  of  the  Captain  with  speed. 

I  had  not  been  on  board  her  long 


/ 


202  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Before  the  fleet  they  ail  did  sail, 

From  Spithead  to  St.  Helens,  boys, 

With  a  fine  and  pleasant  gale. 

And  when  to  St.  Helens,  boys,  we  came, 

The  wind  at  west  was  very  high  ; 

Sir  Edward  Hawke  hove  out  his  signal, 

For  to  come  to  anchor  that  very  night. 

Sir  Edward  he  hove  out  another  signal, 

For  the  captain's  boat  to  come  with  speed, 

It  was  for  to  turn  over  fifty  hands, 

On  board  of  the  Ipswich  indeed. 

And  when  alongside  of  the  Ipswich  we  came, 

I  boldly  in  her  jump'd  in  : 

And  a-cruizing  the  Channel  I  went  in  her, 

And  the  French  dogs  we  did  sweetly  trim. 

We'd  not  been  out  above  six  weeks 

Before  the  news  to  us  was  brought  : 

Then  to  take,  sink,  burn,  and  destroy 

All  the  French  ships  we  came  athwart. 

It  happen'd  on  a  Sunday  morning, 

As  we  was  on  our  starboard  tack, 

Between  the  hours  of  nine  and  ten, 

Three  sail  of  Frenchmen  we  did  take. 

We  fir'd  a  shot  and  hoisted  our  colours, 

Then  to  let  chem  see  what  we  was ; 

As  soon  as  they  came  along  side  us 

They  saw  we  was  English  boys, 

Then  straitway  they  hauPd  down  their  colours, 

And  unto  us  they  did  strike ; 

And  they  know'd  that  they  must  sink, 

If  they  had  offer'd  for  to  fight. 

We  took  five  more,  which  made  us  eight, 

And  away  to  Spithead,  boys,  we  went. 

And  now,  my  lads,  we're  come  to  an  harbour, 

We  can  go  to  rest  with  great  content. 

So  all  young  men  that  row  in  the  lighters 

Keep  yourselves  free  from  a  press-gang, 

And  when  ever  you  come  athwart  old  W d 

For  my  sake  give  him  a  hearty  damn. 


THE   SEVEN   YEARS'   WAR         20; 

BRITAIN'S  RESOLUTION  TO  FIGHT  THE 

FRENCH. 

(?T756) 

Come  jc:.n  with  me,  you  Britons  bold. 
Ne'er  let  vour  country  be  sold  ; 
We'll  let  the  French  to  understand, 
We'll  fight  them  both  by  sea  or  land. 
With  hearts  of  steel  and  sword  in  hand. 
Like  Britons  bold. 

Brave  Prince  George  shall  command 
Our  English  [army],  boys,  by  land  ; 
And  when  we  meet  our  enemy, 
We'll  let  them  know  we'll  fight  or  die, 
And  quickly  make  them  for  to  fly 

From  Britons  bold. 

Brave  Anson  and  Hawke,  brave  Mostyn  and  West, 
They  are  all  admirals  of  the  best  ; 
And  brave  Boscawen  we'll  not  pass  by, 
For  he  will  either  fight  or  dy, 
And  from  the  French  he'll  never  fly, 
He  is  a  Briton  bold. 

In  brave  Plymouth  Harbour  near  the  main, 

There's  a  hundred  sail  of  French  ships  weve  taeu  ; 

Already,  boys,  they  have  a  drench. 

We  have  many  thousands  of  the  French, 

( 'nnfin'd  in  close  imprisonment, 

By  Britons  bold. 

Our  Parliament  they  do  agree 
That  all  these  ships  shall  pri/.-s  be. 
There's  many  a  thousand  pound  in  gold. 
For  many  a  jolly  sailor  bold. 
Who  did  his  enemies  controul, 

Like  Britons  bold. 

Proud  Lewis  says,  we  understand, 
That  he  will  invade  our  British  land  ; 


»04  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

But  if  he  dare  to  show  his  face 
Before  Prince  George's  royal  grace, 
We'll  make  them  glad  to  quit  the  place, 
Like  Britons  bold. 

Come,  my  boy,  and  let  us  go 
To  fight  the  proud,  insulting  foe  ; 
Come,  let  us  finish  what's  begun, 
And  see  what  is  for  to  be  done, 
We  have  oft-times  beat  them  four  to  one, 
Like  Britons  bold. 

May  God  protect  us  in  the  field, 
Against  our  enemies'  sword  and  shield  ; 
Then  fear  not  Charley's  Highland  plods, 
Nor  yet  proud  Lewis's  wooden  gods, 
But  scourge  them  with  good  English  rods, 
Like  Britons  bold. 

God  bless  great  George  upon  the  throne, 
And  may  he  now  enjoy  his  own  ; 
May  God  preserve  him  day  and  night, 
And  let  him  long  enjoy  his  right, 
He  is  all  loyal  souls'  delight. 

[Like  Britons  bold.] 


THE    TERRIBLE   PRIVATEER. 

You  sailors  all  of  courage  bold, 
Now  a  true  story  I  will  unfold  ; 
How  we  behaved  you  soon  shall  hear, 
On  board  the  Terrible  privateer. 

We  touch'd  at  Plymouth,  it  was  for  men, 
Unto  the  seas  we  went  again, 
And  being  blest  with  a  pleasant  gale, 
Hop'd  with  our  enemies  to  prevail. 

We  had  not  long  been  on  the  sea, 
Before  a  Frenchman  we  did  see  ; 
He  was  well  rigg'd,  and  come  from  France, 
Her  name  was  call'd  the  bold  Valance. 


CAPTAIN   DEATH  205 

We  crowded  all  the  sail  we  could. 

Our  thundering  cannons  fire  we  would  ; 

M   nv  a  uallant  sailor  fell, 

boaid  the  ship  call'd  the  Terrible. 

Powder  and  ball  did  fly  so  fast, 

Four  hours  and  a  half  this  fight  did  last. 

But  a  sad  misfortune  us  befell, 

On  board  the  ship  call'd  the  Terrible. 

W'e  boldly  gave  them  gun  for  gun, 
Till  the  blood  out  of  our  scuppers  run, 
Our  captain  and  our   mate]  being  slain, 
We  could  no  longer  the  fight  maintain. 

To  board  us  then  they  did  begin. 

And  stript  us  naked  to  the  skin  ; 

Thev  put  us  all  in  the  bole  together. 

Where  twenty-seven  poor  souls  were  smother  d. 

They  sail'd  with  us  to  the  first  sea  port, 
\nd  bound  us  in  prison  strong  ; 
Where  full  nine  months  we  did  lay, 
Before  the  Carteel  did  fetch  us  away. 

Here's  a  health  unto  our  British  fleet. 
Grant  thev  with  these  privateers  may  meet, 
And  [have]  better  luck  than  the  Terrible, 
\nd  sink  those  Mounsiers  all  to  hell. 


CAPTAIN  DEATH 


The  muse  and  the  hero  together  are  fir  d, 
The  same  noble  views  has  their  bosom  inspird  : 
As  lreedom  they  love,  and  for  glory  contend, 
The  muse  o'er  the  hero  still  mourns  as  a  friend  . 
So  here  let  the  muse  her  poor  tribute  bequeath, 
To  one  British  hero- tis  brave  Captain  Death. 


206  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

The  ship  was  the  Terrible — dreadful  to  see  ! 
His  crew  was  as  brave  and  as  valiant  as  he ; 
Two  hundred  or  more  was  their  full  complement, 
And  sure  braver  fellows  to  sea  never  went. 
Each  man  was  determined  to  spend  his  last  breath 
In  fighting  for  Britain  and  brave  Captain  Death. 

A  prize  they  had  taken  diminish'd  their  force. 
And  soon  the  brave  ship  was  lost  in  her  course  ; 
The  French  privateer  and  the  Terrible  met, 
The  battle  began  all  with  horror  beset : 
No  heart  was  dismay'd,  each  bold  as  Macbeth, 
The  sailors  rejoiced,  so  did  brave  Captain  Death. 

Fire,  thunder,  balls,  bullets,  were  soon  heard  and  felt, 

A  sight  that  the  heart  of  Bellona  would  melt ; 

The  shrouds  [were]  all  torn  and  the  decks  fill'd  with  blood, 

And  scores  of  dead  bodies  were  thrown  in  the  flood ; 

The  flood,  from  the  time  of  old  Noah  and  Seth, 

Ne'er  saw  such  a  man  as  our  brave  Captain  Death. 

At  last  the  dread  bullet  came  wing'd  with  his  fate, 
Our  brave  captain  dropt,  and  soon  after  his  mate  ; 
Each  officer  fell,  and  a  carnage  was  seen, 
That  soon  dy'd  the  waves  to  a  crimson  from  green  ; 
Then  Neptune  rose  up,  and  he  took  off  his  wreath, 
And  gave  it  a  triton  to  crown  Captain  Death. 

Thus  fell  the  strong  Terrible,  bravely  and  bold, 
But  sixteen  survivors  the  tale  can  unfold  ; 
The  French  were  the  victors,  tho'  much  to  their  cost, 
For  many  brave  French  were  with  Englishmen  lost. 
For  thus  says  old  Time,  '  Since  Queen  Elizabeth, 
I  ne'er  saw  the  fellow  of  brave  Captain  Death.' 


A   NEW  SONG. 

Come  all  you  brave  Britons  wherever  you  be, 
Fill  up  your  glasses  to  brave  Blakeney  ; 
O'er  a  full  flowing  bowl  our  voices  shall  ring, 
Huzza  for  brave  Blakeney,  and  God  save  the  King. 
Sing  tantarara  shoot  Byng,  etc. 


ADMIRAL   BYNG  207 

Here's  a  health  to  brave  Blakeney  so  stout  and  so  bold, 
Who  the  fort  of  St.  Pbjip  so  brave  Y  *dhold  ■ 
Had  he  been  reirforced  by  Admiral  Byng 
He'd  not  yielded  St.  Philip  unto  the  French  king. 
Sing  tantarara,  etc. 

And  when  that  he  came  unto  the  British  shore, 
Tne  bells  they  did  ring  and  the  guns  they  did  roar, 
In  a  full  flowing  bowl  his  valour  shall  ring, 
Huzi  for  brave  Blakeney  and  shoot  Mr.  Byng. 
Sing  tantarara,  etc. 

I  had  like  to  have  forgot  our  brave  Captain  Carr, 
When  Admiral  Byng  call'd  a  council  of  war; 
He  boldly  made  answer,  '  The  King  sent  all  we 
To  defend  fort  St.  Philip,  and  help  brave  Blakeney. 
Sing,  etc. 

Then  he  left  Admiral  B.,  and  away  he  did  steer. 
In  spite  of  the  guns  of  the  great  Gahssionere,  [sic] 
In  the  fort  of  St.  Philip  he  landed  his  men, 
And  sank  the  brave  Dolphin  in  the  harbour  then. 
Sing,  etc 

So  God  save  our  admirals  who  are  loyal  and  right. 
For  their  King  and  country  like  Blakeney  they'll  fight. 
Ind  those  who  are  treach'rous  in  a  halter  let  swing, 
Huzza  for  brave  Blakeney,  and  God  save  the  King. 
Sing,  etc. 


THE   LETTER   OF  A    CERTAIN  ADMIRAL. 
Mr.  Cleveland,  1  pray,  to  their  lordships  you'll  say 

And  so  give  me  joy  of  my  pleasure. 

We'd  a  wind,  you  must  know,  as  fair  as  could  blow, 

And  therefore  in  days  just  eleven, 
We  had  sail'd  from  the  shore,  full  ten  leagues  or  more, 

And  saw  nought  but  the  ocean  and  heaven. 


208  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Then  seventeen  ships  came  licking  their  lips. 

And  crying  out,  '  Fee,  faw  and  furn  ' ; 
Bigger  each  than  Saint  Paul ;  guns,  the  devil  and  all ; 

And,  egad,  looking  wondrous  glum. 

But  no  matter  for  that,  who  says  pit-a-pat? 

We  tack'd,  and;.we  stood  to  the  weather  ; 
We  tack'd  quite  about,  right  and  left,  brave  and  stout, 

And  so  we  were  sideways  together. 

Souls  five  score  and  two,  maugre  all  they  could  do, 

We  took  in  a  tartan  alive ; 
Six  hundred  did  sail  in  the  vessel  so  frail, 

But  our  hundred  had  eat  up  the  five. 

But  of  this  by  the  bye  ;  for  now  we  drew  nigh 
To  each  other— quite  close — nay,  'tis  true  ; 

Six  times  two  of  the  line,  large,  grand,  bright  and  fine  ; 
Five  frigates  !  but  look  d  rather  blue. 

'  Fair  honour,'  quoth  I,  '  in  thy  arms  let  me  die, 
And  my  glory  burn  clear  in  the  socket ' ; 

Not  an  ounce  more  of  powder,  or  a  gun  a  note  louder. 
So  the  directions]  I  put  in  my  pocket. 

Brave  West  led  the  van,  I  follow'd  amain  ; 

Such  closing,  and  raking,  and  work, 
With  foresails  and  braces  all  fiutt'ring  in  pieces, 

'Twould  have  melted  the  heart  of  a  Turk. 

But  the  devil,  in  spite,  to  blast  our  delight, 

Got  aboard  the  Intrepid,  his  daughter  ; 
Made  her  jump,  fly,  and  jumble,  reel,  elbow,  and  tumble, 

And  drove  us  quite  out  of  the  water. 

And  now,  being  tea-time,  we  thought  it  was  the  time 

To  talk  over  what  we  had  done  ; 
So  we  put  on  the  kettle  our  tempers  to  settle  ; — 

And  presently  set  the  fair  sun. 

Our  council  next  day,  in  seemly  array, 

Met,  sat,  and  debated  the  story  : 
We  found  that  our  fleet  at  last  might  be  beat, 

And  then,  you  know,  where  is  the  glory  ? 


ADMIRAL    BYNG  209 

Moreover,  'twas  plain,  u.ree  ships  in  the  van 

Had  their  glasses  and  china  all  broke ; 
And  this  gave  the  balance,  in  spite  of  great  talents, 

Against  us — a  damnable  stroke  ! 

Without  fear  of  reproaches,  as  sound  as  your  roaches, 

Of  glory  we've  sav'd  our  whole  stock  ; 
'Twere  pity,  indeed,  to  lose  it,  or  bleed, 

For  a  toothless  old  man  and  a  rock. 


A   RUEFUL    STORY,    ADMIRAL    B G'S    GLORY, 

OR    WHO   RUN  AWAY  FIRST. 

A  New  Ballad  to  the  tune  of  John,  Duke  of  Marlborough. 

Give  ear,  ye  sons  of  glory, 
Of  greater  deeds  I  sing 

Than  e'er  were  recorded  in  story, 
All  done  by  great  Admiral  Byng. 

Sing,  sing,  O  rare  Admiral  Byng. 

It  was  in  the  very  same  sea,  sir, 
His  father's  fleet  did  swim  : 

His  father  fought  well,  we  agree,  sir, 
But  his  father  was  nothing  like  him. 

Sing,  sing,  0  great  Admiral  Byng. 

At  first  he  c?  ne  to  Gibraltar, 
Where  he  was  1  for]  succours  to  call  ; 

But  wisely  his  orders  did  alter, 
And  took  no  succours  at  all. 

Sing,  sing,  O  wise  Admiral  Byng. 

While  Portmahon  was  invaded, 
And  Blakeney  defended  the  fort, 

In  the  sea  for  a  while  he  paraded, 
And  then  took  a  peep  at  the  port. 

Sing,  sing,  O  bold  Admiral  Byng. 


210  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

At  length  he  descried  the  foe,  sir, 
Whom  he  bravely  determined  to  beat, 

If  he  cou'd  without  striking  a  blow,  sir, 
Or  hurting  his  Majesty's  fleet. 

Sing,  sing,  O  brave  Admiral  Byng. 

And  when  the  engagement  began,  sir, 
The  admiral  stuck  to  his  plan  ; 

For  he  fought  without  firing  a  gun,  sir, 
Or  loosing  a  single  man. 

Sing,  sing,  0  rare  Admiral  Byng. 

West  gallantly  charg'd  in  the  van,  sir, 
Without  dismay  or  fear  ; 

But  Byng,  who  would  not  risk  a  man,  sir, 
Kept  cautiously  snug  in  the  rear. 

Sing,  sing,  great  Rear- Admiral  Byng. 

At  length  the  French  run  away,  sir, 
As  Frenchmen  are  apt  to  do  : 

But  he  scorn'd  to  give  them  foul  play,  sir, 
So  he  civilly  run  away  too. 

Sing,  sing,  generous  Admiral  Byng. 

For  behaving  so  well  in  the  ocean, 
At  least  he  deserves  well  a  string ; 

And  if  he  wou'd  sue  for  promotion, 
I  hope  they  will  give  him  his  swing. 

Swing,  swing,  O  rare  Admiral  Byng  ! 


ADMIRAL  BYNG  AND  BRAVE    WEST. 

I  said  unto  brave  West,  '  Take  the  van,  take  the  van,' 
I  said  unto  brave  West,  'Take  the  van.' 

I  said  unto  brave  West, 

'  As  you  like  fighting  best, 

I  in  the  rear  will  rest, 
Take  the  van.' 


THE   ISLE   OF  A IX  211 

Brave  West  did  boldly  act  in  the  van,  in  the  van, 
Brave  West  did  boldly  act  in  the  van  ; 

As  he  did  boldly  act, 

I  call'd  my  own  ships  back  : 

Else  he'd  put  the  French  to  wrack 
Near  Mahon. 

Oh  !  woe  to  cursed  gold  !  ohon  !  ohon  ! 
Oh  !  woe  to  cursed  gold  !  ohon  I 

Oh  !  woe  to  cursed  gold  ; 

For  Minorca  I  have  sold, 

That  gallant  place  of  old, 
With  Mahon  ! 

It's  decreed  by  the  King,  I  do  hear,  I  do  hear, 
He's  decreed  it  the  nation  to  please, 

It's  decreed  by  the  King, 

I'll  be  shot  by  my  marines, 

For  the  misdeed  I  have  deen 
On  the  seas. 


A  NE IV  SONG    WRITTEN  ON  THE  ISLE   OF  AIX. 

Tune  of  Every  Man  keep  his  own  Room. 
I  am  a  sailor  bold,  and  press'd  to  served  the  King, 

makes  me  raving  mad. 

It's  enough  to  make  a  dog  mad,  to  see  a  pudding  creep. 
If  he  could  not  get  at  it,  he'd  bark  and  howl  and  weep  ; 
Methinks  I  see  the  laurels  grow  and  easy  to  be  had, 
SSI  dare  no,  gather  .hen,  wh.eh  -*--™^ 


P  2 


212  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

My  master  has  a  nosegay,  but  it  is  not  compleat, 
Tho'  the  royal  rose  of  England  is  excellently  sweet ; 
The  laurel  and  French  lilly  in  plenty  may  be  had : 
Alas  !  I  dare  not  gather  them,  which  makes  me  raving  mad. 

Mad,  boys,  mad,  etc. 

The  Derbyshire  and  Cheshire  boys  by  Henry  were  sent 

To  fetch  the  Flower-de-Luce  home,  and  chearfully  they  went ; 

They  brought  it  home  to  England  which  made  their  hearts  full 

glad; 
But  if  their  hands  had  been  confin'd  they  all  had  been  stark  mad, 

Mad,  boys,  mad,  etc. 

If  I  without  my  errand  to  England  do  return, 
Alas  !  I  fear  in  effigy  my  body  they  will  burn ; 
The  boys  will  hollow  after  me,  as  I  do  pass  along, 
And  evry  Grub-street  printer  will  curse  me  in  a  song. 

So?ig,  boys,  song.     And  every  Grub-street  printer  will  curse 
me  in  a  song. 


BOLD   SAWYER. 

Come  all  ye  jolly  sailors  with  courage  stout  and  bold, 
Come  enter  with  bold  Sawyer,  he'll  cloath  you  all  in  gold ; 
Repair  on  board  the  old  Nassau, 
As  fine  a  ship  as  e'er  you  saw, 
We'll  make  the  French  to  stand  in  awe ; 
She's  manned  with  British  boys. 

Commander  Keppel  with  his  good  design, 
Commanded  the  squadron,  five  sail  of  the  line, 

The  Prince  Edward  of  forty  guns, 

The  Firedrake  and  Furnace  bombs, 

To  take  Goree  it  must  be  done, 
By  true  British  boys. 

The  29th  of  October  from  Spithead  we  set  sail, 

Kind  Neptune  convey'd  us  with  a  sweet  and  pleasant  gale, 

So  steering  on  the  Barbary  shore, 

Distance  about  twelve  leagues  or  more, 

The  wind  at  west  aloud  did  roar ; 
Stand  by,  ye  British  boys. 


BOLD   SAWYER  21 

So  steering  on  the  lee-shore  until  the  break  of  day, 
We  spy'd  a  lofty  sail  on  the  Barbary  shore  to  lay, 

In  great  distress  she  seem'd  to  be, 

Her  guns  all  overboard  threw  she, 

Which  prov'd  the  Lichfield  for  to  be, 
With  all  her  British  boys. 

The  wind  blowing  hard,  we  could  give  them  no  relief, 
A  stretching  on  the  lee  shore  we  touch  d  at  Tenenff. 
So  watering  the  ships  at  Santa  Cruz, 
Taking  good  wine  for  our  ship's  use, 
We  sold  our  cloaths  good  wine  to  booze, 
Like  brave  British  boys. 

Our  ship  being  water'd  and  plenty  of  good  wine, 
We  hoisted  up  our  top-sails  and  crost  the  tropic  line. 

The  wind  at  west  the  leading  gale, 

Our  gallant  ship  did  sweetly  sail ; 

Steady  along  she  ne'er  will  fail, 
With  all  her  British  boys. 

'  Steady  a  port !  don't  bring  her  by  the  lee  ! 
Yonder  is  the  flag-staff  at  Goree,  I  do  see. 

We  brought  the  city  within  sight, 

Anchor'd  in  Goree  bay  that  night, 

Clear'd  our  ships  ready  to  fight, 
Like  brave  British  boys. 

Early  next  morning  the  Prince  Edward  of  forty  guns 
Was  station'd  off  the  island  to  cover  our  two  bombs, 
The  old  Nassau  she  led  the  van, 
With  all  her  jovial  fighting  men, 
The  drums  did  beat  '  to  quarter  stand, 
Like  brave  British  boys. 

We  sail'd  up  to  their  batteries  as  close  as  we  could  lay, 
Our  guns  from  the  top  and  poop  aloud  did  play, 

Which  made  the  French  cry  '  Morbleu  ! 

Diable  !  what  shall  we  do  ? 

Here  comes  bold  Sawyer  and  all  his  crew, 
They're  all  British  boys: 

Then,  follow'd  by  the  Dunkirk  and  Torbay, 
The  guns  aloud  did  rattle  and  shells  did  play, 

Which  made  the  French  their  batteries  shun, 
And  from  their  trenches  for  to  run, 
The  flag  was  struck,  the  fight  was  done, 
O  huzza  .'  my  British  buys. 


2i4  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

The  Nassau  and  Dunkirk  and  Torbay  of  renown, 
Three  as  fine  ships  as  belong  to  the  crown, 

The  only  ships  that  fought  so  free, 

In  taking  of  the  isle  of  Goree, 
They  are  all  British  boys. 

Boast  not  of  Frenchmen  nor  yet  of  Maclome,  [sic] 
Sawyer's  as  big  a  hero  as  ever  you  did  hear, 

Whilst  the  shot  around  him  did  flee, 

In  engaging  twice  the  isle  of  Goree, 

As  valiant  men  as  ever  you  see, 
They  are  all  British  boys. 

Here's  a  health  to  King  George  our  sovereign  majesty, 
Likewise  to  bold  Sawyer  that  fought  the  French  so  free, 

Our  officers  and  all  our  crew 

Are  valiant  men  as  e'er  you  knew, 

So  here's  a  health  to  each  true  blue, 
My  brave  British  boys. 


CAPTAIN  BARTON'S  DISTRESS  ON  BOARD   THE 
LICHFIELD,    BEING     UNDER    SI  A  VERY   SEVEN- 
TEEN MONTHS  AND  FOURTEEN  DAYS. 

Come  all  you  brave  seamen  that  plows  on  the  main, 
Give  ear  to  my  story  [I'm]  true  to  maintain  ; 
Concerning  the  Lichfield  that  was  cast  away 
On  the  Barbary  shore  by  the  dawn  of  the  day. 

The  tenth  of  November,  the  weather  being  fine, 
We  sailed  from  Kingsale,  five  ships  of  the  line, 
With  two  bombs  and  two  frigates  with  transports  also, 
We  was  bound  unto  Goree  to  fight  our  proud  foe. 

The  29th  of  November,  by  dawn  of  the  light, 
We  spied  land  that  put  us  in  a  fright, 
We  strove  for  to  weather,  but  we  run  quite  aground, 
The  seas  mountain  high  made  our  sorrow  abound. 


THE  WRECK  OF  THE  LICHFIELD   215 

Our  mast  we  cut  away,  our  wreck  for  to  ease, 
And  being  exposed  to  the  mercy  of  the  seas  ; 
Where  one  hundred  and  thirty  poor  seamen  did  die, 
Whilst  we  all  for  mercy  most  loudly  did  cry. 

Two  hundred  and  twenty  of  us  got  on  shore  ; 
No  sooner  we  landed  but  strip'd  by  the  Moors, 
Without  any  subsistence  but  dead  hogs  and  sheep, 
That  was  drove  on  shore  by  the  sea  from  the  ship. 

For  seven  days  together  we  thus  did  remain, 
Our  bodys  quite  naked  for  to  increase  our  pain  ; 
Till  some  Christian  merchant  that  lives  in  the  land, 
[He]  sent  us  relief  by  his  bountiful  hand  [sic], 

Unto  our  fleet  the  same  fate  did  share,  [sic] 
Then  unto  Morocco  we  all  marched  there, 
Where  they  are  captives  in  slavery  to  be, 
Till  old  England  thought  proper  for  to  set  them  free. 

When  the  black  king  we  all  come  before, 
He  stroked  his  long  beard,  and  by  Mahomet  he  swore, 
'  They  are  all  stout  and  able  and  fit  for  the  hoe, 
Pray  to  my  gardens,  pray  let  them  go.' 

We  had  cruel  Moors  our  drivers  to  be, 

By  the  dawn  of  the  day  at  the  hoe  we  must  be  ; 

Untill  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 

Without  any  remission,  boys,  work  was  our  doom. 

If  that  you  offer  for  to  strike  a  Moor, 
Straightway  to  the  king  they  will  have  you  before, 
Where  they  will  basternade  you  till  you  have  your  fill, 
If  that  will  not  do,  *  >ur  blood  they  will  spill. 

So  now  in  Morocco  we  shall  remain, 
Untill  our  ambassador  cross[es]  the  main  ; 
Where  our  ransom  he'll  bring,  and  soon  set  us  free, 
And  then  to  Gibraltar  we'll  go  speedily. 

So  now,  my  brave  boys,  to  old  England  we're  [bound], 
We  will  have  store  of  liquors  our  sorrow  to  drown. 
We  will  drink  a  good  health,  success  never  fall  [sic] 
[Bad]  cess  to  the  bawd  and  the  whores  of  Kingsale. 


216  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 


GILCHRIST  [AND]  HOTHAM' S  BRAVERY:  A  NEW 

SONG. 

On  their  taking  a  large  French  ship  of  forty  guns 
after  a  bloody  engagement  of  three  hours,  and 
bringing  her  into  Yarmouth. 

You  heroes  of  England,  I  pray  you  attend 

Unto  these  new  verses,  which  lately  were  penn'd  j 

It's  of  a  bloody  battle,  I  tell  you  plain, 

Fought  by  Captain  Hotham  on  the  raging  main., 

His  ship  she  is  called  Melampe  by  name, 
Of  thirty-six  guns,  a  fine  frigate  of  fame  ; 
As  he  was  a  cruising  one  day  by  great  chance, 
He  espied  a  frigate  belonging  to  France 

Who  many  rich  prizes  from  England  had  ta'en, 
When  Hotham  espied  her  on  the  raging  main. 
'  I'm  glad  that  I've  found  her,'  he  then  did  reply  ; 
'Thou  shalt  go  to  England,  or  else  by  thee  I'll  die.' 

The  wind  being  fair,  we  soon  her  overtook, 

She  was  full  of  men,  and  boldly  they  look  ; 

She  turned  then  upon  us,  with  abundance  of  pride, 

And  instantly  gave  us  a  thundering  broadside. 

We  gave  them  another,  as  good  as  they  sent ; 
To  take,  or  be  taken,  was  our  full  intent. 
Their  metal  was  heavy,  yet  we  did  not  care, 
But  stood  to  our  quarters,  and  did  them  not  fear. 

Like  true  British  heroes  our  guns  we  did  play, 
'  Fight  boldly,'  says  Hotham,  '  we  shall  win  the  day. 
When  as  she  is  ta'en,  for  your  valour  so  rare, 
Ev'ry  man  in  the  ship  shall  have  his  just  share.' 

The  Southampton  she  then  triumphant  did  ride, 
Brave  Gilchrist  he  gave  them  a  warming  broadside. 
With  true  British  courage  our  guns  we  did  load, 
Which  brought  down  her  masts  close  by  the  board. 


HAWKES  ENGAGEMENT        217 

Udoh  Gilchrist  shoulder  a  ball  did  graze  ; 
But  The  wound  was  not  fatal,  the  Lord  be  prats  d  ; 
And  tho'  he  was  so  wounded,  he  smiling  did  say, 
•  She  is  so  disabled,  she  can't  run  away. 

She  struck  to  us  quickly,  we  boarded  her  then, 
We  killed  her  more  than  an  hundred  men  ; 
The  father  and  son  they  both  captains  were 
And  dy'd  of  their  wounds,  for  truth  we  do  hear. 

Sure  valianter  captains  never  drew  breath, 
Than  Gilchrist  and  Hotham,  unless  it  was  Death. 
God  prosper  them  both  unto  their  lives  end  ; 
By  a?rue  loyal  subject  these  verses  were  penn  d. 

HAWKES  ENGAGEMENT 
We  hoX  up  our  topsails,  [to  cross]  the  ragmg  seas. 

Bay.' 
.  Can  vou  tell  me  at  what  distance,  and  where  about  they  lay  ? ' 
■  O  ves  kind  s™,'  he  then  replied,  'it's  thirty  leagues  to-day. 
There's"  twenty-two  sail  of  rtie  line  to  leeward  of  us  do  he, 
All  clean  and  tight  for  action  as  ever  you  did  see. 

Then  ud  bespoke  our  captain  bold,  to  Edward  Hawke  did  say : 
<Th?s  iftheTnest  news, 'sir,  that's  brought  to , « .this .day. 
Then  Hawke  himself  soon  mounted I  upon  the  lofty  >    d 
His  wings  were  spread  at  large,  my  boys,  ana  aiter 
steer'd. 

The  fifteenth  of  [November,  the  morning  being  clear 
When  twenty-two  sail  of  the  line  to  leeward  did  appear. 
Ml  hands  !  all  hands  !  did  rattle,  a  glorious  sight  to  see 
Unto  the  fight  prepar'd,  my  boys,  like  hons  bold  and  free. 


«8  SOJVGS  AND  BALLADS 

The  first  broadside  we  Sve T  them   hnv«         ^  l 

beams.  to  em'  bo>s'  we  laid  them  on  their 

£  Oh  !  that's  a  glorious  broadside,'  our  admiral  reoH^  • 

we  su„k  the  Pride  of  s**;  ?Era&  aa« 

01  don^you  see  the  pride  of  France  ,o  the  depths  is  going 

prize.  '  my  boys'  and  one   we  made   our 

Wh?lc7  th'6  fight  ,S  °Ver'  fil1  UP  a  flowing  bowl  • 

£K  aWheeahhP  to  ftS&K&S  T  ??  US  " 

Likewise  unto  Sir  EdwarT^  2  S  X^SlS.. 

NEPTUNE'S  RESIGNATION. 

The  wat'ry  god,  great  Neptune,  lay 
In  dalliance  soft  and  amorous  play 
,,..°n  Amphitrite's  breast ; 
When  uproar  rear'd  its  horrid  head, 

t  Tn5?n,S  Shrunk'  the  Nereids  fled, 
And  all  their  fear  confess'd. 

Loud  thunder  shook  the  vast  domain, 
I  he  liquid  world  was  wrapt  in  flame, 

■I  ne  god  amazed  spoke  • 
•Ye :  winds  go  forth  and  make  it  known 
Who  dares  to  shake  my  coral  throne, 
And  fill  my  realms  with  smoke  ! ' 


NEPTUNE'S  RESIGNATION      210 

The  winds,  obsequious  at  his  word 
Jprung  strongly  up  V  obey  their  lord, 

\nd  saw  two  fleets  a-weigb  . 
Theone"victoriou>Ha^wasth,ne: 

The  other,  Conflans-  wretched  line, 
In  terror  and  dismay. 

v    Mivi   thev  view  Britannia's  sons 
^dt^rslaughter  from  their  guns, 

\nd  strike  the  deadly  bow. 
Which  caused  ill-fated  Gallic  slave 
To  find  a  tomb  in  briny  waves, 

And  sink  to  shades  below. 
With  speed  they  fly  and  tell  their  chief 
That  France  was  ruin  d  past  reliet, 
And  Hawke  triumphant  rode.  , 

^HawkeT' cry'd  the  fair, 'pray  who  is  he 

That  dare  usurp  this  power  at  sea, 
And  thus  insult  a  god  . 

tl,3  „.:nds  replv  :  '  In  distant  lands 

inert- ^  king  who  Hawke  commands  ; 

He  scorns  all  foreign  force  ; 
And  when  his  floating  castles  roll. 
From  sea  to  sea,  from  pole  to  pole, 

Great  Hawke  directs  their  course. 

.  Or  when  his  winged  bullets  fly 
To  punish  fraud  and  perfidy. 

Or  scourge  a  guilty  land, 
Then  gallant  Hawke,  serenely  great 
Tho^eath  and  horror  round  him.au. 

Performs  his  dread  command  ! 

Neptune  with  wonder  heard  the  story 
Of  George  s  sway  and  Britain  s  glory, 

Which  time  shall  ne'er  subdue 
Roscawen's  deeds,  and  Saunders  <amc 
Wd  Sh  brave  Wolfe's  immortal  name, 
J   Then  cry'd,' Can  this  be  true? 

■  A  king  !  he  sure  must  be  a  god  ! 
Who  has  such  heroes  at  his  nod, 

To  govern  earth  and  sea  . 
I  yield  my  trident  and  my  crown. 

V tribute  due  to  such  renown^ 
Great  George  shall  rule  for  me 


220  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

HEARTS   OF  OAK. 
{In  Harlequin'' s  Invasion,  sung  by  Champness,  1759). 

The  words  by  David  Garrick.      The  music  by  Dr.  Boyce. 

Come  cheer  up,  my  lads,  'tis  to  glory  we  steer, 
To  add  something  new  to  this  wonderful  year  : 
To  honour  we  call  you,  not  press  you  like  slaves, 
For  who  are  so  free  as  we  sons  of  the  waves  ? 

Hearts  of  oak  are  our  ships, 

Hearts  of  oak  are  our  men, 

We  always  are  ready, 

Steady,  boys,  steady, 

We'll fight  and  well  conquer  again  and  again. 

We  ne'er  see  our  foes  but  we  wish  them  to  stay ; 
They  never  see  us  but  they  wish  us  away  : 
If  they  run,  why  we  follow,  and  run  them  on  shore, 
For  if  they  won't  fight  us,  we  cannot  do  more. 
Hearts  of  oak,  etc. 

They  swear  they'll  invade  us,  these  terrible  foes, 
They'll  frighten  our  women,  and  children,  and  beaux ; 
But  should  their  flat-bottoms  in  darkness  get  o'er, 
Still  Britons  they'll  find  to  receive  them  on  shore. 
Hearts  of  oak,  etc. 

We'll  still  make  them  run  and  we'll  still  make  them  sweat, 
In  spite  of  the  Devil  and  Brussels  Gazette. 
Then  cheer  up,  my  lads,  with  one  voice  let  us  sing, 
Our  soldiers,  our  sailors,  our  statesmen,  and  King. 
Hearts  of  oak,  etc. 


THUROTS  DREAM. 


The  twenty-first  of  February,  as  I've  heard  the  people  say, 
Three  French  ships  of  war  came  and  anchored  in  our  bay  : 
They  hoisted  English  colours  and  landed  at  Kilroot, 
And  marched  their  men  for  Carrick  without  further  dispute. 


THU ROT'S  DREAM  "i 

Colonel  Jennings  beir.gthere  a. .ha.  pretty ^  town 
And  aloud™  his  enemies  for  ■  quarter    d,d  call. 

2!l5«i^SA,SSS?«  *  .'he  Isle  of 


IXrCSVr-Thu'ro^^  forced  for  to  lie  by. 

The  firs,  ship  that  ^X~£££g1XSSS£& 
She  gave  to  them  a  ^td  her  aS  fired  another  round. 
7ohrohTr;,atnsays°Thurho"'-a.his  U  not  Carr.cU  town.' 

Then  out  eried  Monsieur  Thuxot  wrth his ^age  {*-£%,, 

«  Strike,  strike  your  colours,  brave  boys,  or       y 

man  >  u~f  ™  hnth  the  weather  and  the 

Their  weighty  shot  comes  in  so  hot  on  both  me 

Striker  colours,  my  brave  boys,  or  they'll  sink  us  in  the  sea.' 

Before  they  got  their  colours  struck ^great ^^^^f^ 
And  many  a  gallant  F«nchnun  on  1  hurot  s  « ieck s     y  ^ 

SK CMSM^  boT s  and  yards  away. 


222  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 


And  as  for  Monsieur  Thurot,  as  I've  heard  people  say, 

He  was  taken  up  by  Elliot's  men  and  buried  in  Ramsey  Bay. 

Now  for  to  conclude,  and  put  an  end  unto  my  song, 

To  drink  a  health  to  Elliot,  I  hope  it  is  not  wrong ; 

And  may  all  French  invaders  be  served  the  same  way  ; 

Let  the  English  beat  the  French  by  land,  our  Irish  boys  on  sea. 


A  new  song  on  the  gallant  behaviour  of  Captain 
O'  Brian,  commander  of  his  Majesty's  ship  the 
Temple,  and  Captain  Taylor,  commander  of  the 
Griffin,  in  destroying  three  privateers  and  the 
fortifications  on  one  of  the  French  West  India 
Islands. 

Observe  this  true  relation,  and  listen  unto  me ; 
'Tis  of  a  bloody  battle,  lately  fought  upon  the  sea, 
By  brave  Captain  O'Brian  and  his  bold  English  tars, 
Commander  of  that  gallant  ship,  the  Temple  man-of-war. 

The  pretty  little  Griffin  did  bear  her  company  ; 
And  as  they  were  a-sailing  by  chance  they  did  espy, 
Nigh  unto  Martinico  they  did  espy  there  fair, 
Three  privateers  belonging  to  the  French,  and  after  them  did 
steer. 

O'Brian  said,  '  My  English  lads,  now  is  the  only  time 
To  cool  the  lofty  Frenchmen's  pride  as  they  sail  in  their  prime ' ; 
They  answered  their  captain,  'We  will  the  Frenchmen  scare, 
We'll  venture  life  and  limbs  with  you  in  the  Temple  man-of-war.' 

The  wind  it  proved  fair,  and  we  after  them  did  steer, 

And  in  a  little  time,  brave  boys,  we  did  to  them  draw  near  ; 

A  broadside  then  we  gave  them,  which  made  the  Frenchmen 

stare, 
They  little  dream'd  so  nigh  they'd  got  the  Temple  man-of-war. 


THE    TAKING  OF  HAVANNAH    223 

The  pre!,,  Bttle  £#£^S££ES|  *&  *d  *  • 

Like  showers  o  had  fro m  our  two       p  ^ 

a  srs  bSSX^*  **  «»>d  «><  us «.  .*. 

Then  further  in  the  harbour  two  ships  we  did  espy, 

fve  S7& S^*"; «U  our  evening  guns. 

sta>'-  r        1  1  -iiij   waknw   nnd  five  that  wounded  are, 

.,  «.„  SCWG  OV  »«  bids  0*  «n««« 

w=»3£SeS:i; 

SSSffl^- **^WA-  «-  unahie. 
Sro^rStd^So^^T  Spain- 
We  Sd  o£  ships,  and  landed  our  troops,  the  Spaniards  can, 
But  fheTSU  were  true  British  hoys,  as  we  their  fury  - 

swaging. 
We  chac'd  the  Spanrards  thro'  the  woods,  and  .runted  then,  U. 

mawkin,  .  .     f   .     thc  rcst  ran  homeward 

And  turn'd  up  hundreds  in  then   fads,  the  re. 

quaking. 


224  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

For  though  they  came  in  thousands  on,  our  fire  would  make  them 

sCtittcrj 

EUt  watf^  Brit°nS  ^  °Ur  §r°Und'  whUe  bl°°d  did  run  like 

The  bfntl^3  judg'd  the  Moro?s  fort  the  Briton's  strensth  would 

But  when  we  blew  it  up  i'  the  air,  they  tuned  another  chanter. 
Bold  Harvey  with  three  noble  ships  their  walls  by  sea  did  batter 
While  we  bombarded  it  on  land,  and  did  their  out-works  clatter. ' 

BUt  "mTu  ^  /  Mrd,  SUCh,  W?ful  thuds  as  the  Cambridge  and 

Marlborough  [did  give  'em] 

Th%frX'them.aS  ^  ™  *"*  ^  f°T  Sm0ak  n°ne  COuId 
The  Cambridge  got  her  captain  shot,  and  a  hundred  more  beside 

EraVthemarVey  then  h'S  Stati°n  qUit'  f°r  five  long  hours  he  try'd 

But  finding  it  bomb  and  cannon  proof,  we  then  did  give  it  over, 
shiver?  a  mmG  W        ^  WallS'  Whl'Ch  SpHt  the  rocks  in 

S°m  wonde^018  "**  UP  W'th  ^  blaSt'  Whkh  made  their  fellows 
Such  a  hideous  roar  ne'er  heard  before,  it  far  exceeded  thunder. 

Thenreade   appr0ach'd    uPon  a  breach>  our  firelocks   cock'd  and 

T7?55  ^'Spaniards  met  "s  for  a  brush,  imploring  on  their  Lady 
lo  aid  Velasco  a  Spaniard  bold,  a  valiant  sea  commander, 

standard        ^   ^^   ^  f0rt'  While    MarZa   kept   Up   his 

O,  then  began  the  bloody  fray,  with  bayonets  and  broad  swords 

champing, 

Through  bones  and  bellies  we  made   our  way,  and  dying  men 

under  us  trampling  ;  '    °  ' 

Of  seven  hundred  Spaniards  here,  scarce  left  alive  was  eighty, 
Velasco  by  his  standard  fell,  whose  deeds  were  counted  mighty. 

Then   to   Havannah   we   did    march,   and   trenches   rais'd   like 
mountains, 

TheifoCuUntaiIlay  thdr  Wat6r  PipeS'  Whidl  SUppHed  them  With  fresh 


LORD  ANSON  AND   HAWKE      225 

Our  batteries  then  began  to  play,  with  roars  aloud  like  thunder, 
Which  dash'd  their   walls  and  chimnies   down,  yet  loath  for  to 
knock  under. 

O,  then  with  bombs  and  fiery  balls,  threatened  their  utter  ruin, 
Which  rais'd  such  cries,  as  pierc'd  the  skies,  for  mercy  they  were 

suing. 
1  Juan]  de  Prado  to  British  tars  was  loath  to  be  subjected, 
But  brave  Albemarle  told  him  his  fate  was  then  to  be  ransacked, 

Or  buried  in  the  city's  ruin,  him  and  his  whole  fraternity  ; 
This  made  him  to  subjection  yield,  and  so  they  were  disarmed ; 
All  stores  and  treasures  of  the  place  are  bought  by  Briton's  glory, 
Seven  ships,  their  arms  and  everything,  and  that's  a  noble  story. 

O,  then  with  honour  we  lin'd   their   gates,  and   bravery  to  our 

wishing, 
And  turn'd  Don  Spaniard  from  their  posts,  which  they  held  by 

commission ; 
May  our  noble  King  prosper  long,  and  all  his  brave  commanders, 
Who    bravely   led   on   Britain's    sons,    to    knock   down   popish 

standards. 


LORD  ANSON  AND  HA  WKE. 

Ye  brave  British  sailors,  true  sons  of  the  main, 

Who  scorn  to  submit  to  the  insults  of  Spain, 

Leave  to  landsmen  their  politick  schemes  and  their  talk, 

And  enter  on  board  the  Lord  Anson  and  Hawke. 

These  two  noble  heroes,  whose  names  our  ships  bear, 
Made  the  Spaniards  to  tremble,  the  Frenchmen  to  fear ; 
Secure  of  success,  then,  your  fortune  ne'er  balk, 
But  enter  on  board  the  Lord  Anson  and  Hawkc. 

Let  the  wise  politicians  of  France  and  of  Spain, 
Threat  to  take  from  Great  Britain  her  rule  o'er  the  main 
Their  plate  ships  shall  pay  for  their  arrogant  talk, 
If  they  come  but  in  sight  of  the  Anson  and  Hawke. 

Q 


226  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

The  wages,  the  ingots,  the  wealth  of  Peru, 

The  Spaniards  are  getting  and  hoarding  for  you ; 

You  shall  ride  in  your  coaches,  whilst  cowards  shall  walk, 

Who  durst  not  engage  in  the  Anson  and  Haivke. 


Then  aboard,  my  brave  lads,  and  with  hearts  stout  and  true, 
The  road  unto  riches  and  glory  pursue  ; 
That  your  wives  may  dress  fine,  and  your  children  may  talk 
Of  your  noble  exploits  in  the  Anson  and  Haivke. 


Here's  a  health  to  King  George,  and  his  consort  so  true, 
May  their  laurels  sit  pleasing  and  well  on  their  brow ; 
To  Hutchinson  and  Dickson,  who  for  courage  never  baulk, 
Then  fill  up  your  glasses,  boys,  to  the  Lord  Anson  and  Hawke. 
Huzza,  brave  boys,  tJie  Lord  Anson  and  Haivke. 


A  NEW  SONG  ON  THE  BLAND  FORD  PRLVATEER. 

Ye  seamen  who've  a  mind  to  go  in  pursuit  of  new  adventures, 
Repair  on  board  the  Blandford,  with  Captain  Stonehouse  enter, 
Who  cruizing   goes  to  meet   his  foes,  such   pastime   sure   must 

please  us, 
We'll  prizes  make  of  all  we  take ;  this  will  to  fortune  raise  us. 

Here  is  our  chief  encouragement,  our  ship  belongs  to  Bristol, 
Poor  Londoners  when  coming  home,  they  surely  will  be  press'd 

all  : 
We've   no   such   fear   when   home   we   steer   with   prizes   under 

convoy, 
We'll  frolick  round  all  Bristol  town,  sweet  liberty  we  enjoy. 

Why  should  we  here  our  time  delay,  in  London  void  of  pleasure, 
Let's  haste  away  to  Biscay  Bay,  and  ransack  there  for  treasure. 
Here  we  must  creep  and  play  bo-peep,  to  shun  the  damn'd  press 

masters, 
We  live  in  strife,  even  die  in  life,  confin'd  by  catch-pole  bastards. 


THE  SAILORS'   DIALOGUE        227 

A  health  to  Captain  Stonehouse,  success  attend  the  Blartdford, 
Five  guineas  is  advanced  us,  come  then  let  us  enter  on  hoard  ; 
With  the  B/and/ord's  guns  we'll  smoak  the  Dons,  their  ragged 

staff  we'll  humble, 
Jack  Frenchmen  too  shall  cry  morbleu,  we'll  give  them  cause  to 

grumble. 

Come  fill  your  flowing  glasses,  let  us  drink  and  be  merry  j 

Take  leave  of  all  your  lasses,  we  can  no  longer  tarry  ; 

Girls,  never  fear,    ye   soon   shall   hear   of  the   B/and/ord's  safe 

arrival, 
To  Bristol  town  then  haste  ye  down,  your  sweethearts  to  revive 

all. 


THE  SAILORS'  DIALOGUE. 
Tune,  Gossip  Joan. 

Tom. 

How  goes  it,  brother  Jack  ?     You  are  grown  such  a  beau  now, 
Had  I  but  seen  your  back  damn  me  if  I  had  known  you, 

Brother  Jack. 

Jack. 

What  cheer,  old  messmate  Tom  ?     You  look  as  if  you'd  cry  now  j 
But  I  have  news  from  home  will  make  you  jump  mast  high  now, 

Messmate  Tom. 

Since  our  brave  towering  Hawke  has  shown  the  French  his  talons, 
'Twill  soon  be  peace  they  talk  ;  if  so  we'll  drink  off  gallons 

To  brave  Hawke. 

Tom. 

Huzza  !  my  hearty  cock  !     For  this  news  damn  all  sorrow, 
ITl  pawn  my  shirt  and  frock,  but  I'll  get  drunk  to-morrow, 

Hearty  cock  ! 

Jack. 

When  all  the  ship  are  paid  we'll  lead  a  merry  life,  boy  ; 
Blood  !  then  how  we'll  parade  with  ev'ry  one  his  wife,  boy, 

When  we're  paid. 


228  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 


Tom. 

Nay,  some  will  have  their  pairs,  they'll  be  so  open-hearted  ; 
And  brimstones  will  have  chairs,  that  rather  should  be  carted, 

All  in  pairs. 

Jack. 

Our  proud  lieutenants  then,  those  empty  flashing  sporters, 
May  pimps  turn  to  great  men,  companions  to  their  porters, 

Not  proud  then. 

Tom. 

Our  midshipmen  now  beaux,  it  makes  me  laugh  to  think,  boys, 
Will  cry  about  old  cloaths,  and  corporals  turn  link-boys 

To  those  beaux. 

Jack. 

Amongst  the  damn'd  odd  scenes  you'll  see  in  jails  and  cages 
Lieutenants  of  marines,  and  doctors'  mates  on  stages. 

Damn'd  odd  scenes. 

Tom. 

The  steward,  dirty  slave,  that  us'd  to  cheat  us  daily, 
Will  still  remain  a  knave,  and  follow  some  bum-baily. 

Dirty  slave  ! 

Both. 

That  day  then,  jolly  buck,  we'll  set  the  taps  a-flowing, 
And  drink  '  rest  and  great  luck '  to  Pitt,  Hawke,  and  Boscawen, 

Jolly  buck  ! 


DISTRESSED  MEN  OF   WAR. 

Says  Jack, '  There  is  very  good  news ;  there  is  peace  both  by  land 

and  by  sea  ; 
Great  guns  no  more  shall  be  used,  for  we  all  disbanded  must  be.' 

Says  the  admiral,  '  That's  very  bad  news ; '  says  the  captain,  '  My 

heart  it  will  break  ; ' 
The  lieutenant  cries,  '  What  shall  I  do  ?   for  I  know  not  what 

course  for  to  take.' 


DISTRESSED   MEN   OF   WAR      229 

Says  the  purser,  'I'm  a  gentleman  born  ;  my  coat  is  lined  with 
And  my  chest  is  full  of  the  same,  by  cheating  of  sailors  so  bold.' 

Says  the  doctor,  '  I'm  a  gentleman  too,  I'm  a  gentleman  of  the 
I  wffl  go  to^ome  country  fair,  and  there  I'll  set  up  mountebank.' 

Says  the  steward,  ■  I'm  sorry  it's  peace,  for  I  love  my  ship  as  my 

life 

And  by 'cheating  of  honest  Jack  Tars  I  have  plenty  of  shiners  so 

bright.' 

Sivs  the  caroenter  '  I  have  a  chest,  a  chest  of  very  good  tools  ; 
f  ^11  go  ^  some  country  fair  and  there  I'll  sell  three-legged 
stools.' 

Says  the  cook,  '  I  wffl  go  to  that  fair,  and  there  I  will  sell  all  my 

Says  ?ack  Tar,  '  If  I  should  meet  you  there,  damn  me,  I'll  pay 
you  for  that  ; 

For  don't  you  remember  the  time  our  topsail  stuck  close  to  the 
And  we  all  stuck  fast  in  the  sheet,  for  want  of  some  of  that  fat  ?' 

Says  the  midshipman,  '  I  have  no  trade  :  I  have  got  my  trade  for 

I  wilfgt^St.  James  Park  gate,  and  there  I'll  set  blacking  of 
shoes ; 

'  And  there  I  will  set  all  the  day,  at  everybody's  call, 
And every  one  that  comes  by,  "  Do  you  want  my  nice  shining 
balls?"' 

Says  Jack,  '  I  will  take  to  the  road,  for  I'd  better  do  that  than  do 

And™*  one  that  comes  by,  I'll  cry,  «  Damn  you,  deliver  your 
purse." ' 


23o  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 


THE  SAILORS   COMPLAINT. 

I 

1  You  are  welcome  to  London,  dear  Jack. 

What  news  have  you  brought  us,  I  pray  ?  ' 
'  From  Portsmouth  I  have  lately  come, 

And  now  I  am  discharg'd  from  the  sea. 
I  have  never  a  copper,  brave  boy ; 

I've  wages  and  prize  money  due.' 
'  Damme  Jack,  truly  do  say, 

You  will  be  hard  set  to  get  it,  it's  true.' 

'  Dear  shipmate,  I've  been  here  a  month, 

And  cannot  get  mine  for  the  truth  ; 
On  board  a  man-of-war  I  went 

When  I  was  a  frolicsome  youth. 
My  king  and  my  country  to  serve 

I  fought  like  a  sailor  so  bold. 
Now  that  the  wars  are  all  over 

I  really  cannot  get  my  gold. 

•  To  a  navy  officer  each  day  I  did  go  ; 

I've  been  both  hungry  and  dry. 
My  money  I  then  did  demand. 

"  You  cannot  have  it,"  they  cry. 
My  life  I  have  ventur'd  for  gold, 

My  king  and  my  country  to  serve. 
Now  the  wars  are  all  over 

Brave  sailors  may  perish  and  starve. 

'  Suppose  that  the  war  should  break  out, 

Then  what  will  Old  England  do  ? 
Bad  usage  we  plenty  receive 

By  not  paying  us  our  due. 
They  will  cavvil  from  day  to  day, 

"To-morrow  you  your  answer  shall  have.'" 
'  Damme  Jack,  I  really  do  say, 

For  I  think  they  are  acting  the  knave.' 

'  Then  truely  I  don't  mean  to  rebel 
Againfst]  my  good  king  and  his  laws. 

Did  he  then  know  my  distress 

He  soon  would  relieve  my  just  cause  ; 


THE  SAILORS   GARLAND        231 

We  should  be  paid  with  great  speed. 

The  taverns  weT'dl  make  them  to  roar, 
WePdl  spend  it  like  brave  jolly  tars  • 

What  else  should  we  do  on  shore  ? 


77^   M/ZO«  GARLAND;    OR,    THE    TIJKET 
BUYER'S   LAMENTATION. 

To  the  Tune  of  Chevy  Chase 

^^ki^  T^ino-  his  fleet  and  sailors  all, 
'gfig&SZ  t^P^nU  and  pride  .nay  bave 

a  fall. 
Where,  courage  stout  and  noble  blood  within   the   heart  doth 
Thereby  soft  for  others'  woes  doth  pant  in  every  vein. 

fflMSEtftflKSa-  up  to  town  ; 
touch  ? 


S0N0S  ANV  ******   ^ 

%g£Z  tU  hue  most  d  sure, 

From  To«r  Hffl  Wi*  hang-dog  _  ^  ^  ^  ^  cit, 

Quoth  S***  *»  a  Stm'  to  foo,  the  mighty  -tete 

•n-^-*  ttao;;i;  to- - -- a  dangerous 

.  Prompt  payment  pub  ^  streaffi. 

AnoS«  Pect  ■*  **-  *  Let,  ,ve  them  «- 

Kp  ,ure   must  needs  De  v  ^ 

What^0-  uu-^mthe-ptov^ 

,_    cp  the  mouse  a^res  v*         dlesS  seamen 
;Vb^aftS-m  sure*  ma.e  *  ^  {oray; 

ce  tWte  caught  .e^^ ft*de  the*  ^ 
.  When  once  tney  fot  Ufe,  an 

TheylUhenbevolu  ain  we  are  sure 

lWh«st  cent  pet  cent,  om  hlmbetransported. 

c0Urt^  '  ,n«rs  well  complain,  w  . 

Nor  can  the  sapors  ^m^  ^ 

Then  sailors  may 


THE  SAYLORS   COMPLAINT      233 

THE    SAYLORS  COMPLAINT  ;  OR     THE   TRUE 
CHARACTER   OF  THE  PURSER   OF  A   SHIP. 

To  the  Tune  of  Iantha,  etc. 

Of  all  the  curst  plagues  that  e'er  Fate  die I  decree 
To  vex  plague,  and  punish  poor  sailors  at  sea, 
There  s  none  to  compare  with  the  purser,  that  evil 
Who's  worse  than  a  jailer,  a  bum,  or  a  devil, 
Sure  when  he  was  framed  Dame  Nature  lay  dying  ; 
Hell  then  took  a  purge,  hell  then  took  a  purge, 
and  Pluto  sh— t  him  flying. 

As  his  name  foully  stinks,  so  his  butter  rank ^jh  smell, 
Both  hateful  to  sailors,  scarce  good  enough  for  hell  . 
The  nation  allows  men  what's  fitting  to  eat, 
Bu   he,  curse  attend  him,  gives .to  us  musty  m«t 
With  bisket  that's  mouldy,  hard  stinking  Suffolk  cheese, 
And  pork  cut  in  pounds,  and  pork  cut  m  pounds, 
for  to  eat  with  our  pease. 

Because  it  is  cut  off  the  best  fatted  hogs 
Heth inks  it  too  good  for  eternal  lowsie  dogs. 
?hen  our  urine  to  purge,  that  the  men  may  piss  clear, 
Instead  of  what's  better,  his  petty-warrant  beer 
Is  by  him  allowed,  which  makes  us  complain 
Which  he  ne'er  regards,  which  he  ne'er  regards, 
so  he  gets  but  the  gain. 

His  oatmeal,  or  grout  known  bj -the )  name  burgooe, 
Is  fating  for  nothmg  but  make  a  salor spew. 

SKfi»i  stk  ansa  »  -* 

or  the  greasing  of  shoes. 

When  a  sailor's  oblig'd  to  make  use  of te store 

He  then  must  expect  to  be  miserable  poor  . 
^consider  wha?  price  for  their  goods we  do  pay  , 
He  has  treble  worth  of  each  man,  I  dare  say. 
Such  dealings  as  these  are  not  just   I  «u 
Yet  such  hardships  as  these,  yet  such  nardsnips 
we  do  daily  endure. 


234  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Now,  since  he's  so  friendly,  I'd  give,  as  'tis  due, 
By  way  of  requital,  a  kind  wish,  or  two  : 
And  first,  may  his  brandy  run  all  o'er  the  deck, 
And  he  end  his  days  in  a  rope  with  aking  neck  ; 
Or  may  he  still  eat,  and  be  never  satisfy'd, 
Still  craving  of  more,  still  craving  of  more, 
but  be  never  cloy'd. 

And  may  he  have  nothing  to  drink  all  the  year, 
When  droughth  shall  attend  him,  but  petty-warrant  beer 
May  fate  ne'er  allow  him  a  candle  to  his  cabbin, 
And  be  in  the  dark  by  Old  Nick  taken  napping, 
And  by  him  or  his  agents  be  bore  swiftly  away, 
To  plague,  vex,  and  punish,  to  plague,  vex,  and  punish, 
for  ever  and  aye. 

May  Charon  be  careful  and  ferry  him  o're 
To  Pluto's  grand  court  on  the  Stygian  shore  : 
May  ten  thousand  furies  still  on  him  attend, 
To  plague  and  torment  him  unto  the  world's  end  : 
While  each  jolly  sailor,  to  make  themselves  merry, 
Shall  take  a  full  glass,  shall  take  a  full  glass, 
to  his  passage  o'er  the  ferry. 


THE    SAILOR'S  RESOLUTION  TO  FIGHT  THE 

SPANIARDS. 

A  New  Song. 

What  ship,  honest  brother  sailor  ?  You  must  stop  and  let  us  know. 
If  you're  entered  or  protected,  you  must  tell  before  you  go. 
Here's   our  warrants   to  impress   you.     Ne'er  repine,    my  noble 
blood  : 

We  don't  mean  for  to  oppress  you  ;  it's  for  your  king  and  country's 
good. 

For   to  humble  the   proud   Spaniards  British  courage   must   be 
shown, 

Or  those  haughty  proud  villains  will   never  know  what  is   their 
own. 


JACK    TAR  135 

TVlr  men-of-war  we'll  make  to  rattle  ;  Spain  shall  tremble  at  the 

Haste'8 brave  boys,  away  to  battle;  the  French    nor  they   could 
never  fight. 

British  courage  should  never  be  daunted  at  the  talk  of  Spanish 

\Vhile'athat  seamen  they  are  want[ed]  well  freely  enter,  like  jolly 

tars.  ,  j 

For  to  humble  the  proud  Spaniards  we'll  sail  along  so  brave  and 

And  mUake  the  Spaniards  to  knock  under  and  the  French  cry  out. 
Morbleu.' 

So  come  along,  my  jolly  sailors,  enter  along  with  tars  so  true  ; 
We  are  the  men  that  fear  no  dangers,  but  soon  will  make  the 

Spaniards  rue. 
Success  to  all  our  brave  commanders  that  do  plough  the  raging 

main,  _  ,  c     • 

Likewise  to  our  jolly  sailors,  for  to  conquer  Prance  and  Spain. 


JACK  TAR. 

'  Come  brave,  honest  Jack  Tar,  once  more  will  you  venture? 
Press  warrants  they  are  out ;  I  would  have  you  to  enter. ^ 
Take  some  rich  Spanish  prize,  as  we've  done  before,  U.  ( 

1  Yes,  and  be  cheated  of  them  all,  as  we  were  the  last  war,  U. 

1  No  man  that  sails  with  me  shall  e'er  be  abused  ; 

So,  Tack,  come  and  enter  ;  you  shall  be  well  used. 

You  shall  be  boatswain's  mate,  Jack ;  so  boldly  come  and  enter 

And  not  like  a  dog  be  haul'd  on  board  of  the  tender. 

•  Dear  captain,'  he  said  then,  '  don't  talk  of  your  pressing ; 
It's  not  long  ago  since  I  gave  six  of  them  a  dressing. 
'  I  know  that  very  well,  Jack :  the  truth  I  must  grant  you ; 
You  are  a  brave,  hearty  fellow,  and  that  makes  me  want  you. 

'  Dear  captain,'  he  said  then,  « if  the  truth  I  do  tell  you, 
I  got  so  much  the  last  war  that  it  quite  fill'd  my  belly  ; 
For  your  damn'd  rogues  of  officers  they  use  men  so  cruel 
That  a  man-of-war  is  worse  than  hell  or  the  devil. 


236  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

'  There  is  the  master  a-swearing,  the  boatswain  a-growling, 
The  midshipman  a-howling  out,  "  Take  that  fore-bowling  " 
If  you  speak  but  one  word  you're  a  mutinous  rascal, 
Both  your  legs  laid  in  irons  and  try'd  by  a  court-martial.' 

Now,  boys,  we  are  press'd  away  from  our  habitation, 
And  we  leave  wife  and  children  in  grief  and  vexation  ; 
We  venture  our  sweet  lives  in  defence  of  our  nation, 
And  we  get  nothing  for  it  but  toil  and  vexation.' 


THEJOLLY  SAILORS   TRUE  DESCRIPTION  OF 

A   MAN-OF-WAR. 

When  first  on  board  of  a  man-of-war 
We  go,  whether  by  press  or  enter, 
And  alongside  of  our  ship  we  come, 
We  boldly  in  her  venture. 
Such  twigging  then  at  we  fresh  men. 
'  They're  clever  fellows,'  some  say, 
While  the  buffers  stand  with  their  rattans, 
Crying,  '  Keep  down  out  of  the  gangway.' 

Then  aft  upon  the  quarter-deck 

We  go,  it  being  common  ; 

Our  officers  examine  us,  to  know 

Who  and  who  are  seamen  ; 

There's  some  are  seamen,  some  are  freemen, 

Some  one  thing,  some  another : 

Then  we  down  below  on  the  main  deck  go, 

Boys,  after  one  another. 

Next  to  old  Trinculo  we  go 

For  an  order  to  get  our  hammocks, 

Then  aft  again  and  down  amain. 

Not  forgetting  our  stomachs. 

The  steward  pens,  he  takes  our  names, 

And  tells  us  to  our  messes ; 

But  nipping  there  they  can't  forbear, 

For  the  Devil  them  possesses. 


ON  BOARD   A    MAN-OF-WAR     237 

Then  up  a^ain  upon  the  deck, 
So  briskly,  boys,  we  bundle  ; 
Since  we  have  secur'd  our  pack, 
We  have  no  cause  to  grumble. 
Then  we  clap  on  what  we  heave  upon, 
Some  piping,  others  singing  : 
There's  hoist  away,  likewise  belay. 
Thus  we  make  a  beginning. 

When  once  our  ship  has  got  all  in. 
And  nothing  now  neglected, 
To  think  of  sea  we  do  begin, 
Our  orders  soon  expected. 
Then  with  a  career  we  get  all  clear, 
In  readiness  for  unmooring, 
Boats  alongside  with  wind  and  tide 
To  carry  the  women  ashore  in. 

'All  hands,  unmoor,'  the  boatswain  calls, 

And  he  pipes  at  every  hatchway  ; 

If  you  Tom  Cockswain's  traverse  tip  him 

Take  care  he  don't  catch  you  ; 

For  without  a  doubt,  if  he  finds  you  out, 

You  may  be  sure  within  you, 

Over  face  and  eyes,  to  your  surprise 

He'll  arm  you  without  mercy. 

The  capstan  is  already  mann'd 

Shall  we  hear  the  boatswain  hollow  ? 

Sometimes  he  is  listening  at  a  stand 

To  hear  the  answers  follow. 

We  have  not  brought  to,  there's  such  ado, 

While  some  are  calling  the  swabbers. 

Now  heave  away  without  delay, 

Boys,  hold  on  the  nippers. 

The  boatswain  and  his  mates  are  piping, 

Crying  '  Men,  have  a  rally. 

And  often  forward  they  are  piking 

To  have  a  rout  in  the  galley. 

'What  are  you  about?     Away  with  us  out. 

To  leave  our  victuals  we  abhor  it ; 

With  cuffs  and  knocks  leave  kettles  and  pots, 

And  the  Devil  cuff  them  for  it. 


238  SOJVGS  AND  BALLADS 

'Heave  and  in  sight,  men,  heave  away  ' 
Prom  forward  the  boatswain  is  calling  • 

Heave  a  turn  or  two  without  delay  •  ' 
Stand  by  the  capstan  for  pealing.' 
Ihen  one  and  all  to  the  catt  do  fall  • 
We  haul  both  strong  and  able, 
1  ill  presently  from  forward  they  cry 

Below,  stick  out  the  cable.' 

We  cast  our  anchors  then  with  speed, 

And  nimbly  press  the  stoppers, 

Then  next  to  fish  it  we  proceed, 

Our  shank-painter  so  proper, 

Which  we  do  pass  securely  fast, 

And  lap  well  on  a  seizing 

Our  anchors,  be  sure,  can't  be  too  secure  : 

It  stands  to  sense  and  reason. 

When  once  our  ship  she  is  unmoor'd 
Uur  swelling  sails  so  neatly, 
With  fore-tack  and  main-tack  also 
Our  sheets  haul'd  aft  completely 
Then  away  we  sail  with  a  fresh  gale 
On  a  voyage  or  on  a  station. 
Like  English  hearts  we'll  play  our  parts 
In  defence  of  the  English  nation. 

The  best  cry  we  like  to  hear 

On  board,  as  I'm  a  sinner, 

Is  when  from  the  quarter-deck  they  call 

lo  the  boatswain  to  pipe  to  dinner. 
Such  crowding  then  among  the  men  : 
Some  grumble,  others  jangle  ■ 
You're  nobody  there  without 'you  swear 
And  boldly  stand  the  wrangle. 

There's  green-horn  fellows  some  on  board 

Before  ne'er  saw  salt  water  ; 

When  come  to  sea,  upon  my  word, 

I  he  case  with  them  does  alter 
They  better  know  how  to  follow  the  plow 
With  good  fat  bacon  and  cabbage  • 
When  sea-sick  took  like  death  they  look 
Ready  to  bring  up  guts  and  garbage 


NEW  SEA   SONG  239 

When  stormy  winds  begin  to  blow 

Our  ship  is  in  great  motion  ; 

To  carry  our  victuals  safe  down  below 

It  requires  a  good  notion. 

We  often  fall  down  the  hatchway  with  all. 

From  the  top  to  the  bottom  sprawling  ; 

Such  laughing  then  among  the  men, 

And  loudly  the  butcher  calling. 

There  arc  snotty  boys  of  midshipmen 
Han't  done  yet  shitting  yellow  ; 
As  to  their  age,  some  hardly  ten 
Strike  many  a  brave  fellow, 
Who  dare  not  prate  at  any  rate, 
Nor  seem  in  the  least  to  mumble  : 
They'll  frap  you  still,  do  what  you  will  ; 
It  is  but  a  folly  to  grumble. 

Now  to  conclude  and  make  an  end 

In  a  full  flowing  brimmer  : 

Let  every  one  drink  to  his  friend  ; 

The  bowl  it  seems  to  look  thinner. 

We'll  drink  again,  like  sons  of  men, 

And  drink  bad  luck  to  the  purser  ; 

He  cheats  us  with  ease  of  our  oatmeal  and  pease  : 

Such  rogues  there  can't  be  worser. 


NEW  SEA    SOiXG. 

Our  boatswain  calls  out  for  his  bold  British  heroes  ; 

Come,  listen  awhile  to  what  I  do  sing  ; 

Let  every  man  toss  off  his  full  bumper 

\nd  drink  a  good  health  unto  George  our  King, 

And  drink  a  good  health  to  Suke,  Moll,  and  kitty  . 

With  mirth  and  good  liquor  we'll  lead  merry  [lives J  ; 

We  will  not  be  afraid  to  kiss,  or  to  venture, 

On  Saturday  night,  to  our  sweethearts  and  wives. 

Our  ship  she  is  in  harbour,  brought  safe  to  an  anchor  : 
The  boats  are  alongside,  they  begin  for  to  throng  ; 
The  girls  that  are  in  them,  they  are  crying  for  husbands ; 
The  one  sings  out  ■  Temmy,'  the  other  [calls]  •  Jo. 


240  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Whilst  the  other  bawls  out,  '  Where  is  my  dear  Harry  ? 
[If]  I  do  not  see  him,  may  I  never  thrive  ! ' 
Alongside  of  those  girls  you  may  lie,  but  not  marry, 
On  Saturday  night,  to  our  sweethearts  and  wives. 

Our  ship  she  is  unrigged,  all  ready  for  docking ; 
Straightway  on  board  of  those  hulks  we  repair, 
Where  we  work  hard  all  day,  and  at  night  go  a-kissing. 
Jack  Tar  is  safe  moor'd  in  the  arms  of  his  dear. 
Straightway  to  the  town  of  Venus  we  will  venture 
Our  spirits  to  freshen,  our  bodies  to  thrive  ; 
We  will  not  be  afraid  to  kiss,  nor  yet  venture 
On  Saturday  night  to  our  sweethearts  and  wives. 

Our  ship  she  is  all  rigg'd  and  ready  for  sea,  boys  ; 
The  girls  that's  on  board  they  begin  to  look  blue ; 
The  boats  are  alongside  to  take  them  on  shore,  boys  ; 
Says  one  to  the  other,  '  Girls,  what  shall  we  do  ? ' 
Then  we  put  to  sea,  with  a  fresh-blowing  breeze,  boys, 
And  through  the  foaming  white  billows  do  [roar] ; 
We  paid  off  all  debts  with  the  flying  fore-topsail. 
Bid  adieu  to  these  girls  and  the  rogues  on  the  shore. 

Now  we  are  on  the  seas,  like  bold  hearts  of  thunder  ; 

Now  we  are  on  the  seas  we  will  rant  and  roar  ; 

We  will  make  all  the  French  and  the  Spaniards  knock  under 

When  our  two-and-thirties  begin  for  to  roar. 

For  to  handle  their  dollars  my  fingers  are  itching ; 

If  I  don't  be  at  them  may  I  never  thrive  ; 

We  will  not  be  like  misers,  to  hoard  by  our  riches, 

But  we  will  spend  them  on  shore  with  our  sweethearts  and  wives. 


THE  HUMOURS  OF  THE  ROYAL  BILLY. 

Come,  all  ye  young  fellows,  attend  to  my  song ; 
It  will  make  you  to  smile,  tho'  tis  not  very  long. 
I  will  tell  you  the  truth,  how  I  first  went  to  sea, 
And  what  there  befel,  if  you'll  listen  to  me  : 
My  story  will  please  you,  if  right  understood, 
And  you  surely  will  laugh  at  poor  Robin  Hood. 


HUMOURS  OF  THE  ROYAL  HILLY    241 

T,  L,  hte  from  the  smoke  of  the  chimr  .me 

2n^Sd  of  a  guard-ship,  tl 

t       -VA  nn  the  side  till  I  came  to  the  top, 
Vh         fX".o  -,  cch'dhold  of  my  frock. 

His  house  on  the  one  side  was  made  of  a  sadjj 
On  the  other  a  blanket  peat  the  colour  of  black. 

sooner  this  place  I  did .enter  in  , 

Than  another  sings  out,  '  Damme,  Jack,  do»  s 

Thev  rifled  my  pockets  of  all  that  was  good, 
Sen  "ore  off  my  frock,  so  left  poor  Robin  Hoed. 

Ksh^k:r^^.-^dstic, 

She  ask'd  me  my  name,  winch  soon  1  did  tell, 

Also  the  disaster  that  had  me  betel. 

The  best  of  ill  language  at  them  she =  did I  IT uft 

Then  ask'd  me  below,  to  accept  of  some  gin. 

Then  with  her  I  consented  directly  to  go, 

And  straightway  together  we  ^^i-hS 

Where  she  call'd  for  a  bottle  of  old  Lnglist.  gin 

I  blest  my  good  stars  with  such  friend  to  fall  in  : 

BuTto  my  vexation,  I  soon  understood 

There  wJ  no  one  to  pay  it  but  poor  Rob.n  Hood. 

Mv  shirt  they  stript  off,  the  gin  for  to  pay  ; 

I  up  a  long  ladder  was  forced  to  run 

ToPthe  officers  then,  in  a  terrible  mood. 

Who  all  bursted  with  laughter  at  poor  Rob.n  riooo 


242  S  ONGS  AND  BALLADS 

They  sent  for  a  man  who'd  the  look  of  a  prig, 
And  he  took  me  away  for  the  purser  to  rig. 
A  huge  pair  of  breeches  he  gave  me,  'tis  true, 
That  reach'd  from  the  top  of  my  rump  to  my  shoe. 
A  coat  he  next  gave  me,  too  short  by  a  rood ; 
'Twould  not  cover  the  backside  of  poor  Robin  Hood. 

The  next  thing  I  met  was  a  man  with  a  stick 

Who  bawl'd  out,  «  All  hands  ! '  and  then  gave  me  a  lick. 

You  lubberly  rascal !     Tis  what  brought  you  here  ' 
Scud  quick,  or  I'll  make  you,  and  hoist  up  the  beer ' 
I  gave  him  a  look,  which  he  well  understood 
For  he  bang'd  me  till  tired,  and  so  left  Robin  Hood. 

No  sooner  had  we  done  hoisting  of  beer, 

To  a  place  call'd  the  galley  I  did  straightway  repair 

Such  a  racket  and  uproar,  and  hell  of  a  rout 

Scaldings  here,  scaldings  there.     I  was  glad  to  creep  out 

You  could  not  have  thought  they  behaved  so  rude 

For  they  scalded  the  shins  of  poor  Robin  Hood. 

I  next  down  below  to  my  dinner  was  brought, 

To  eat  peas  with  my  messmates  like  pigs  in  a 'trough  ■ 

But  as  for  the  pork,  I  thought  not  amiss 

While  one  turn'd  his  back,  crying,  'Who  shall  have  this? 

1  thought  it  was  fair,  but  I  soon  understood 

The  smallest  of  all  fell  to  poor  Robin  Hood. 

Then  a  man  came  unto  me  with  a  stick  in  his  hand  ■ 

The  boatswain  he  was  call'd,  if  I  right  understand. 

A  bucket  of  grease  in  my  fist  he  gave  fast ; 

He  told  me  to  jump  up  and  grease  down  the  mast 

I  scamper'd  away  then  as  fast  as  I  could, 

But  he  brought  me  up  standing,  ah  !  poor  Robin  Hood  ! 

Two  ruffians  he  ordered  to  strap  me  amain. 

I  wish'd  myself  back  with  my  Jenny  again. 

My  blood  it  did  boil ;  I  was  forc'd  to  obey  : 

But  I  show'd  them  a  specimen  of  West  Country  play 

Down  the  hatchway  I  bundled  one  rascal  so  lewd 

But  they  seiz'd  me  behind,  ah  !  poor  Robin  Hood  ! 

When  peace  is  concluded— 'twill  soon  be  the  news— 
I  shall  see  these  rapscallions  a-blacking  of  shoes 
With  my  cudgel  of  oak  I  will  learn  them  to  skip," 
And  make  them  remember  on  board  the  guard-ship 
My  song  it  is  ended.     If  right  understood, 
'Twas  from  Sussex  I  came,  and  my  name's  Robin  Hood. 


THE  DOLPHIN'S   RETURN       243 

THE  DOLPHIN'S  RETURN. 
Tune,  The  Lilies  of  Trance. 

(1768).  < 

Ye  bold  British  tars,  who  to  glory  are  free, 

Who  dare  venture  your  lives  for  your  fortunes  at  sea, 

Yourself  for  a  while  of  your  pleasures  disrobe, 

And  attend  to  a  tale  of  a  voyage  round  the  globe, 

For  the  Dolphin's  return'd,  and  such  tidings  does  bring 

As  may  welcome  us  home  to  our  country  and  king. 

The  twenty'th  of  August,  the  year  sixty-six 

Bv  command  of  our  captain  the  signal  we  nx  ; 

In  the  Sound  of  old  Plymouth  our  ship  we  unmoor  d 

With  our  consort  the  Swallow,  and  transport  well  stord  ; 

But  now  we're  return'd,  and  such  tidings  we  bring 

[As  may  welcome  us  home  to  our  country  and  king]. 

The  wind  being  far  the  next  day  we  set  sail, 
Blest  at  once  with  a  fresh  and  prosperous  gale ; 
And  stramhtway  our  course  for -Madeira  we  steer  d. 
No  danger  we  saw,  and  no  hardship  we  feard 
For  welail'd  round  the  world  such  tidings  to  bring 
As  might  welcome  us  home  to  our  country  and  king. 

We  touch'd  at  Madeira,  St.  Jago  likewise, 
For  the  sake  of  fresh  water  and  other  supplies  ; 
But  at  neither  of  these  could  we  «»ak«  any  stay. 
For  the  course  of  our  voyage  would  admit  no  delay 
We  were  bound  round  the  world  such  tidings  to  bring 
As  might  welcome  us  home  to  our  country  and  king. 

When  Magellan's  Straits  we  first  enter'd  we  found 

Such  giants  of  men  that  in  all  the  world  round 

None  with  them  could  compare  or  for  sue  or ^for  height, 

For  the  smallest  of  these  were  trom  six  feet  to  eight. 

Yet  these  are  but  trifles  of  t.dings  to  bring  ; 

We've  a  present  more  worthy  our  country-  and  king.  ^  ^ 


244  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

In  Port  Famine  we  anchor'd,  and  took  in  our  store 
Of  both  water  and  wood,  for  it  yielded  no  more. 
Discharging  our  store  ship,  our  anchors  we  weigh'd, 
And  we  work'd  through  the  Straits  ;  no  time  we  delay'd  ; 
But  now  are  return'd,  and  such  tidings  we  bring 
As  may  welcome  us  home  to  our  country  and  king. 

A  tedious  long  passage  it  was  for  to  go, 

With  our  consort  so  dull  that  we  took  her  in  tow, 

But  on  April  the  12th  we  got  clear  of  the  Straits  ; 

Tho'  the  Swallow,  we  fear,  a  [much]  longer  time  waits, 

Yet  we  are  return'd,  and  such  tidings  we  bring 

As  may  welcome  us  home  to  our  country  and  king. 

Then  we  plow'd  the  South  Ocean,  such  [land]  to  discover 
As  amongst  other  nations  has  made  such  a  pother. 
We  found  it,  my  boys,  and  with  joy  be  it  told, 
For  beauty  such  islands  you  ne'er  did  behold. 
We've  the  pleasure  ourselves  the  tidings  to  bring 
As  may  welcome  us  home  to  our  country  and  king. 

For  wood,  water,  fruit,  and  provision  well  stor'd 
Such  an  isle  as  King  George's  the  world  can't  afford, 
For  to  each  of  these  islands  great  Wallis  gave  name, 
Which  will  e'er  be  recorded  in  annals  of  fame. 
We'd  the  fortune  to  find  them,  and  homeward  to  bring 
The  tidings  a  tribute  to  country  and  king. 


THE  BE  AGS  OF   WASHINGTON. 

Come,  all  you  brave  seamen  and  landsmen  likewise, 
That  have  got  an  inclination  your  fortunes  to  rise, 
That  have  got  an  inclination  to  fight  the  proud  Bostonians, 
And  soon  we'll  let  you  know  that  we  are  the  sons  of  Britain. 

Fal  lal,  etc. 

As  for  the  brags  of  Washington,  that  never  can  be  ; 
There  is  Carlton  and  Clinton  have  shewn  their  bravery  ; 
There  is  Darby  and  Rodney,  commanders  of  the  ocean, 
And  many  a  brave  fellow  is  waiting  for  promotion. 


CHARLES    TOWN  RIVER  245 

And  if  we  meet  a  privateer,  or  a  lofty  man  of  war, 

We  never  stand  to  wrangle,  to  jangle,  or  to  jar  ; 

We  give  them  a  broadside,  and  say,  '  My  lads,  take  care,  0, 

And  keep  your  proper  distance  from  an  English  man-of-war,  0.' 

And  if  they  will  not  fight  us,  but  from  us  run  away, 
All  with  our  heavy  chain-shot  we'll  cut  their  masts  away, 
And  if  they  will  not  yield  to  us,  nor  unto  us  surrender, 
We'll  split  their  ship  in  pieces  and  to  the  bottom  send  her. 

As  for  the  brags  of  Washington,  we  care  not  a  pin  ;     V 
We  will  fire  at  his  breastworks  and  make  him  let  us  in  ; 
Our  bomb-shells  and  cannons  shall  roar  like  mighty  thunder, 
And  by  our  constant  firing  we  will  make  them  to  surrender. 

And  when  the  wars  are  over,  if  fortune  saves  our  lives, 

We  will  bring  great  store  of  riches  to  our  sweethearts  and  our 

wives, 
And  drink  a  health  unto  the  lad  that  has  a  heart  to  enter  ; 
That  man  can  never  gain  a  prize  that  is  afraid  to  venture. 


ON  THE  LATE  ENGAGEMENT  IN  CHARLES  TO  WN 

RIVER. 

* 
Good  people  of  Old  England,  come,  listen  unto  me, 
All  you  who  live  at  home  at  ease,  and  from  all  dangers  free, 
What  I'm  a-going  to  mention,  and  to  you  shall  declare, 
Concerning  part  of  our  fleet  as  they  a-cruising  were. 

It  is  of  a  late  action,  as  for  a  truth  we  hear, 
As  part  of  our  British  fleet  for  Charles  Town  they  did  steer ; 
As  we  the  river  sailed  along  the  provincials  they  begun  ; 
The  Bristol,  most  unfortunate,  she  on  the  bar  did  run. 

Then  from  the  town  and  batteries  they  fired  on  us  amain 
With  red-hot  shot  all  from  the  shore,  on  board  of  us  they  came  ; 
And  seeing  us  lie  on  the  bar,  their  intentions  was  so, 
Our  gallant  ship  for  to  blow  up  and  prove  our  overthrow. 

But  thro'  God's  Providence  so  great  prevented  their  desire, 
Tho'  with  their  shot,  that  came  so  hot,  they  set  us  twice  on  fire  ; 
But  soon  we  out  the  flames  did  put,  our  gallant  seamen  brave 
They  did  their  best  endeavours  their  precious  lives  to  save. 


246  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

The  gallant  Bristol  well  behaved,  tho'  she  was  in  distress, 
Anrl  all  the  ships  in  company  kept  firing  in  excess, 
toe  nnons  bnskly  we  d'is  [charged],  our  shot  hkehafl did pour, 
Amongst  the  blacks  and  Indians  so  numerous  on  the  shore. 

We  drove  them  from  their  batteries,  and  made  them  to  retreat, 
T  ikewise  the  town  soon  shattered  with  our  gallant  fleet ; 
K  thin   a  warm  reception,  and  that  they  knew  so  well, 
Became  against  Old  England  great  they  strongly  did  rebel. 

We  engaged  many  hours,  for  the  best  part  of  the  day  ; 

Ou^r  brave  commander  he  was  kill'd  all  in  the  bloody  fray  ; 

?wo  hundred  more  brave  men  were  kill'd,  th'  engagement  provd 

UporTthedecks,  poor  souls,  they  lay,  all  in  their  purple  gore. 

Now  to  conclude  and  make  an  end,  Lord,  send  it  was  all  o'er, 
In  love  and  unity  to  live  as  we  have  done  before  ; 
Success  unto  all  Britons  bold,  that's  both  by  land  or  sea, 
Who  now  is  venturing  their  lives  in  North  America. 


SULLIVAN'S  ISLAND. 

1776. 
A  New  War  Song. 

My  lords,  with  your  leave 

An  account  will  I  give 
That  deserves  to  be  written  in  metre  : 

For  the  rebels  and  I 

Have  been  pretty  nigh- 
Faith,  almost  too  much  for  Sir  Peter. 

With  much  labour  and  toil 

Unto  Sullivan's  Isle 
I  came,  firm  as  Falstaff  or  Pistol, 

But  the  Yankees  ('od  rot  'em, 

I  could  not  get  at  'em) 
Most  terribly  maul'd  my  poor  Bristol. 


THE   CRUISERS  247 

Bold  Clinton  by  land 

Did  quietly  stand 
While  I  made  a  thundering  clatter  ; 

But  the  channel  was  deep, 

So  he  only  could  peep 
And  not  venture  over  the  water. 

De'el  take  'em  ;  their  shot 
Came  so  swift  and  so  hot, 
And  the  cowardly  dogs  stood  so  stiff,  sirs, 
That  I  put  ship  about, 
And  was  glad  to  get  out, 
Or  they  would  not  have  left  me  a  skiff,  sirs. 

Now  bold  as  a  Turk 

I  proceed  to  New  York, 
Where  with  Clinton  and  Howe  you  may  find  me. 

I've  the  wind  in  my  tail, 

And  am  hoisting  my  sail, 
To  leave  Sullivan's  Island  behind  me. 

But,  my  lords,  do  not  fear, 

For  before  the  next  year, 
Although  a  small  island  could  fret  us, 

The  continent  whole 

We  shall  take,  by  my  soul, 
If  the  cowardly  Yankees  will  let  us. 


{THE   CRUISERS.} 

A  New  Song,  Adapted  to  the  Times. 

[To  the  Tune  of  A  Hunting  we  will  go  !='  The  Dusky  Night.'] 

Behold,  upon  the  swelling  wave,  with  streaming  pendants  gay, 
Our  gallant  ship  invites  the  brave,  while  glory  leads  the  way. 

And  a-crtdsing  we  will  go,  oho  I  oho  !  oho  ! 

A-cruising  we  will  go,  oho  !  and  a-cruising  we  will  go  ! 

Ye  beauteous  maids,  your  smiles  bestow  ;  for  if  you  prove  unkind 
How  can  we  hope  to  beat  the  foe  ?     We  leave  our  hearts  behind. 
When  a-cruising  we  shall  go,  oho  !  oho  !  oho  1  etc. 


248  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

See  Keppel's  flag  once  more  display'd  ;  upon  the  deck  he  stands  j 
Old  England's  glory  ne'er  can  fade  or  tarnish  in  his  hands. 
So  a-cruising  we  will go \  etc. 

Be  England  to  herself  but  true,  to  France  defiance  hurl'd, 
Give  peace,  America,  with  you,  and  war  with  all  the  world. 
And  a-cruising  we  will  go,  etc. 


ON  BOARD    OF  THE   '  ARE  THUS  A' 

Come,  all  ye  jolly  sailors  bold, 

Whose  hearts  are  cast  in  honour's  mould, 

While  British  glory  I  unfold 

Huzza  to  the  Arethusa  ! 
She  is  a  frigate  tight  and  brave 
As  ever  stemm'd  the  dashing  wave  : 

Her  men  are  staunch 

To  their  fav'rite  launch  ; 
And  when  the  foe  shall  meet  our  fire, 
Sooner  than  strike  we'll  all  expire 

On  board  of  the  Arethusa. 

'Twas  with  the  spring  fleet  she  went  out, 
The  English  Channel  to  cruize  about, 
When  four  French  sail,  in  show  so  stout, 

Bore  down  on  the  Arethusa. 
The  fam'd  Belle  Poule  straight  ahead  did  lie  : 
The  Arethusa  seem'd  to  fly  ; 

Not  a  sheet  nor  a  tack 

Or  a  brace  did  she  slack, 
Tho'  the  Frenchmen  laugh'd,  and  thought  it  stuff, 
But  they  knew  not  the  handful  of  men  how  tough 

On  board  of  the  Arethusa. 

On  deck  five  hundred  men  did  dance, 
The  stoutest  they  could  find  in  France  ; 
We  with  two  hundred  did  advance, 

On  board  of  the  Arethusa. 
Our  captain  hail'd  the  Frenchman,  '  Ho  ! ' 
The  Frenchman  then  cried  out,  '  Hallo  ! ' 


THE   GREENLAND   MEN  249 

'  Bear  down  :   d'ye  see  ? 

To  our  admiral's  lcc' 
'  No,  no,'  says  the  Frenchman,  '  that  can't  be.' 
'  Then  I  must  lug  you  along  with  me,' 

Says  the  saucy  Arethusa. 


The  fight  was  off  the  Frenchman's  land. 
We  fore'd  them  back  upon  the  strand  ; 
For  we  fought  till  not  a  stick  would  stand 

Of  the  gallant  Arethusa. 
And,  now  we  have  driven  the  foe  ashore, 
Never  to  fight  with  Britons  more, 

Let  each  fill  a  glass 

To  his  favourite  lass  ; 
A  health  to  the  captain  and  officers  true 
And  all  that  belong  to  the  jovial  crew 

On  board  of  the  Arethusa. 


THE   GREENLAND  MEN 

A  excellent  new  song,  composed  by  18  Greenland- 
men  in  the  Swan  Tender  hold  in  Leith  Roads, 
June  2d,  17780  \sic\. 

To  the  Tune    We'll  go  no  more  to  Greenland  in  a  ship  that  has 

no  guns. 

On  board  the  noble  Ann,  27th.  of  March,  from  Shields  to  Green- 
land we  set  sail, 
The  wind  it  blowing  fair  with  a  sweet  and  pleasant  gale. 
We  had  not  sailed  many  days  when  Fair  Isle  we  did  see, 
But  on  the  next  day  morning  in  with  a  privateer  fell  we, 
We'll  go,  etc. 

She  bore  down  upon  us,  and  upon  our  quarter  she  did  come  ; 
She  hoisted  French  colours  and  to  windward  fired  a  gun  ; 
This  greatly  did  surprize  us,  and  to  quarters  we  did  go. 
It  never  shall  be  said,  my  boys,  but  the  noble  Ann  will  face  the 
foe. 
We'll  go,  etc. 


25o  SOJVGS  AND  BALLADS 

partus  ens  sasahs' 

Our  guns  being  few  in  number,  the  number  being  but  five 
To  fire  them  it  is  needless  till  we  can  him  espy   g  ^ 

We'll  go,  etc. 

CrUv'HCa<Pnin.rf!teduhe  qua»«deck  like  a  lion  stout 

SS  runnW  ope"  sd  A"1  ^V?  C°Mrd'^  *™  "  «' 

We  fought  them  five  glasses,  but  found  it  all  in  vain  • 

wlul^r  Wi"  leaTC  US  ™<d  Aey  si  us  losl.™"  bC  teSt; 

Then  seeing  us  an  inferior  force  they  unto  us  did  shout 

WSJ?  P°°r  Eng,ish  d°&-  »hy  don^ou  gve  it'outi- 
We  found  tt  was  in  va,n  to  fight ;  down  colours  we  did  hawl  • 

mC  T  b°at  and  C°me  aboafd  '  [-»]  4  they'dTd  call. 

Thehvenh°aU,r^Ptain  Went  aboard'  and  P«  of  o«r  noble  crew 

yhima.hrohughaPta,n  °"  thE  head  and  STOre  **  "uTd  run 

And"  Z  :wXehi;hTheyUttUep  b°u™whnet0  ^  """* 

throng.  y       P  where  we   were  thick  and 

We'll  go,  etc. 


THE    GREENLAND   MEN         251 

W^fyi^n'hircoSon,    for   Ireland   Captain   Kay  in  did 

UntoPthe  Irish  Channel,  where  he  was  bound  to  cruise. 
We'll  go,  etc. 

ThPv  had  not  cruised  many  days,  but  only  four  or  five, 
Until  Sey  sp  ed  the  Friends  brig  and  soon  made  her  a  prize ; 
ttnt  cruis  iv.  two  days  longer  in  breast  of  Boron  Head. 
Which  pro^d  to  our  advantage,  they  took  the/«mv  bng. 
We'll  go,  etc. 

Rnnsom  beiiv  made  for  her,  it  being  all  agreed 

For  to^nockaoff  our  irons  and  put  us  aboard  with  speed, 

We'll  go,  etc. 

Now  to  our  ioy  and  comfort  we're  landed  all  on  shore, 
X  to  Newcastle  we  arc  bound,  to  see  our  friends  once  more. 
But  taveUng thro'  the  Highlands,  the  people,  very  poor, 
?hey  scarce  would  admit  us  to  come  within  their  door. 
We'll  go,  etc. 

We  being  in  this  condition  we  travelled  long  and  sore 
Rut  as  we  came  to  the  southward  more  pity  they  did  sho» 
AMast  meeting  Nvith  one  John  Robson,  who  proved L  very -kind, 
Andfw  tSSe  day.  he  kept  us  and  maintained  us  like  a  friend. 
We' II  go,  etc. 

After  this  refreshment  on  our  journey  we  do  proceed, 
But  coming  near  to  Edinburgh  we  met  a  rogue  indeed, 
Who  prend^d  to  be  our  friend,  but  |wnh    an  evd  e;e, 
For  then  he  did  deceive  us,  as  we  m  the  barns  did  lie. 
We'll  go,  etc. 

Next  morning  after  two  o'clock  5°  of  Neper's  gang 
Came  with  sword  and  pistol  to  take  10  naked  men. 
ThTy  finding  us  able  seamen,  as  we  knew  very  well, 
They  gave  us  such  an  offer  as  is  a  s  lame  to  tell. 
We'll  go,  etc. 


252  SOJVGS  AND  BALLADS 

Now  we  are  all  taken,  and  to  Leith  we  do  come 
Before  Captain  Neper  to  receive  our  doom. 
We  were  that  night  in  two  barns  as  we  were  ne'er  before, 
Or  we  had  broke  some  of  these  ruffians'  heads  and  made  them  for 
to  roar. 
We'll  go,  etc. 

He  told  us  we  might  enter  if  that  we  would  pay 
Forty  shillings  a  man  to  the  rogue  that  did  us  betray  ; 
But  Neper's  high  offer  we  rejected  with  disdain, 
But  we'll  fight  for  our  King  against  France  and  against  Spain. 
We'll  go,  etc. 

But  I  hope  in  short  time  sweet  peace  will  be  restor'd, 
And  the  Devil  will  have  Neper  tho'  we're  in  the  hold. 
When  peace  is  restor'd  to  Leith  we  will  come, 
To  pay  Neper  and  his  men  for  what  they  have  done. 
We'll  go,  etc. 

Come,  all  you  jolly  seamen  that  to  Greenland  do  go, 
We  wish  you  good  success,  alltho'  we  go  no  more, 
For  we  are  forced  to  serve  the  King  on  board  of  a  man-o-war ; 
But  expects  to  return  with  gold  and  silver  store. 
We  11  go,  etc. 


ADMIRAL  KEPPEL    TRIUMPHANT;    OR, 
MONSIEURS  IN  THE   SUDS. 

Each  bold  British  tar, 

Who  ne'er  dreads  wound  or  scar, 
Now  to  honour  and  glory  advance ; 

Never  let  it  be  told 

That  Britons  so  bold 
Shall  stoop  to  be  conquer'd  by  France. 

This  American  war 

Had  ne'er  gone  on  so  far 
Had  they  not  been  supported  by  France ; 

But  Keppel  so  brave, 

Such  music  he'll  have, 
Will  teach  them  the  Old  English  dance. 


ADMIRAL   KEPPEL  25 

Tho'  railing  there's  been 

'Gainst  statesmen  and  King 
And  they  said,  we  durst  not  declare  war, 

But,  whether  or  not, 

Such  a  navy  we've  got 
That  will  soon  be  a  scourge  to  Monsieur. 

Bold  Keppel,  we  know, 

Was  ever  their  foe, 
And  his  courage  no  Briton  need  doubt ; 

Two  French  frigates  he's  ta'en, 

That  were  sailing  the  main 
Our  West  India  fleet  for  to  rout. 

Now  Keppel,  they  say. 

Off  Brest  Harbour  does  lay  : 
Monsieurs  with  their  fleet  can't  come  out  ; 

If  they  do  they  must  fight, 

Which  was  ne'er  their  delight. 
We  shall  beat  them  ;  of  that  there's  no  doubt. 

Each  true  British  soul, 

Push  round  can  or  bowl, 
Drink  success  to  his  Majesty's  arms 

And  his  navy  at  sea ; 

Then  we  all  must  agree 
We  fear  no  invading  alarms. 


KEPPEL  AND  DE   CHARTRES 

A  New  Song. 

(1779.) 

Come,  all  ye  valiant  seamen  that  plough  the  raging  main, 
And  listen  to  my  ditty,  ye  jovial  sons  of  fame  ; 
It  is  of  the  bloody  battle  between  us  and  Monsieur, 
And  if  you'll  give  attention  the  truth  of  it  you'll  hear. 

On  the  ninth  day  of  July,  at  St.  Hellens  where  we  lay. 
Our  admiral  hove  a  signal  out  for  all  the  fleet  to  weigh. 
Down  Channel  we  all  sail'd,  till  a  Dutchman  we  did  meet, 
Who  gave  us  the  intelligence  of  seeing  the  French  fleet. 


1 


254  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

The  twenty-third  of  July  was  the  day  we  hove  in  sight 
Of  the  Due  de  Chartres  and  forty  sail  so  bright. 
Our  admirals  hove  the  signal  out  for  all  the  fleet  to  chase, 
But  the  French  prov'd  cowards  and  run,  to  their  disgrace. 

We  continued  chasing  them  till  the  twenty-seventh  day, 
Then  about  the  hour  of  ten  at  noon  our  colours  we  did  display. 
The  Shreivsbury,  Captain  Lockhart,  was  the  first  that  did  engage, 
Which  made  our  noble  admirals  hoist  their  bloody  flags  with 
rage. 

The  Egmont,  Captain  Allen,  that  ship  of  mighty  fame, 
She's  worthy  to  be  called  the  Dread  of  France  by  name, 
For  boldly  she  bore  down,  and  twenty-eight  ships  engag'd, 
While  our  officers  and  men,  boys,  did  show  them  British  play. 

The  brave  Due  de  Chartres  came  rolling  in  his  pride, 
Thinking  to  send  the  Egmont  down  with  one  of  his  broadsides  ; 
But  he  was  mistaken,  as  plainly  doth  appear, 
For  we  gave  him  such  a  drubbing  as  put  their  hearts  in  fear. 

To  speak  of  the  Formidable  and  give  that  ship  her  due, 

She  stood  in  our  behalf,  boys,  like  Englishmen  so  true, 

The  French  admiral  lying  at  our  stem,  thinking  us  for  to  take, 

But  [she]  gave  him  a  broadside,  which  [made  his  heart  to  achej. 

And  at  the  very  same  time  we  gave  them  three  more  louder. 
Bold  Allen  cries,  '  Luff,  my  boys,  and  let  us  smell  their  powder, 
Our  ship  was  so  disabled  that  she  would  hardly  steer, 
Which  obliged  us  for  to  heave  her  to,  our  damage  to  repair. 

The  French  they  form'd  a  line  again,  with  a  pretence  to  fight, 
But  on  purpose  to  deceive  us  and  steal  away  by  night. 

[Two  lines  missing.] 

Our  ship  she  was  very  foul,  likewise  at  Lisbon  grounded, 
With  fourteen  brave  fellows  kill'd,  and  twenty-four  was  wounded, 
Which  made  us  cry  out,  '  Revenge,'  and  made  our  hearts  to  grieve 
To  think  we  could  not  see  them,  but  they  should  us  deceive. 

So,  to  conclude  and  end  my  song,  I  do  you  kindly  greet 
To  drink  to  our  brave  admirals  and  captains  in  the  fleet, 
Likewise  to  Captain  Allen  and  his  officers  so  bold, 
And  to  his  ship's  company  ;  they're  valiant  hearts  of  gold. 


ADMIRAL   KEPPEL    TRIUMPHANT  255 


A  NEW  SONG  IN  PRAISE  OF  ADMIRAL  KEPPEL  S 

FLEET. 

Come,  all  young  seamen,  wherever  you  be, 
That  sails  with  Admiral  Keppel  to  sea, 
For  we  are  the  boys  that  are  loyal  and  true, 
That  fights  for  King  George  and  our  country  too. 

So,  boys,  fill  your  bumpers  all  round  ; 

Success  to  the  fleet  that's  outward-bound, 

For  we  are  the  boys  that  wears  true  blue 

And  belong  to  Admiral  KeppePs  crew. 

But  when  he  hoists  the  British  flag, 
Not  France  or  Spain  has  room  to  brag  ; 
He  will  fight  the  French  and  Spaniards  too, 
And  make  Monsieur  to  cry,  '  Morbleu  ! ' 
So,  boys,  etc. 

Had  Keppel  but  orders  for  to  fight 
The  French  wou'd  not  have  run  away  at  night  ; 
No  orders  he  had  for  to  give  them  their  due, 
Which  vex'd  the  admiral  and  his  brave  crew. 
So,  boys,  etc. 

I  wish  their  heads  on  Temple  Bar, 
Who'd  hinder  bold  fighting  in  time  of  war, 
Or  else,  like  Jack  the  Painter,  to  be 
Hanged  high  upon  Tyburn  tree. 
So,  boys,  etc. 

Now  drink  a  health  to  George  our  King, 
Not  forgetting  Charlotte,  his  royal  Queen, 
And  all  brave  seamen  that  sail  on  the  main 
True  blue  for  ever  will  never  stain. 
So,  boys,  etc. 


ADMIRAL  KEPPEL  TRIUMPHANT. 

Ye  brave  British  tars,  come,  attend  to  my  muse, 

Be  jovial  and  hearty,  in  wine  let's  carouse  ; 

For  Keppel  from  the  accusation  is  clear, 

That  was  brought  against  him  by  Sir  Hugh  Palliser. 


256  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

One  morning,  last  July,  at  break  of  the  day, 
The  French  was  descry'd  in  battle  array : 
Brave  Keppel,  impatient  to  fight  proud  Monsieur, 
Directed  his  course  and  unto  them  drew  near. 

The  French  fleet  to  windward  first  gave  a  broadside. 
Augustus,  undaunted,  their  great  guns  defy'd  : 
His  fleet,  being  mann'd  with  compleat  British  tars, 
Appal'd  the  Monsieur  with  the  thunder  of  Mars. 

Aghast  the  pale  French  in  dismay  bore  away ; 
Our  ships,  being  crippl'd,  oblig'd  us  to  stay, 
Main-sails,  gallant  royals,  stay-sails  to  repair, 
That  we  might  again  re-attack  the  Monsieur. 

This  done,  our  commander  the  signal  did  make 
For  the  ships  to  the  lee  to  come  to  his  wake. 
Regardless  of  order,  Sir  Hugh  Palliser 
Refus'd  to  obey,  and  kept  back  in  the  rear. 

This  gave  the  French  time  to  retreat  into  Brest  : 
But  observe  the  sequel,  which  is  a  meer  jest. 
As  guilt  is  always  [the]  companion  of  fear, 
So  mind  the  dark  plan  of  Sir  Hugh  Palliser. 

Assisted  by  Beelzebub,  prince  of  old  Styx, 
His  infernal  sire,  the  weapon  he  strikes  ; 
Himself  to  exculpate,  the  shaft  he  lets  fly, 
Intending  a  sacrifice  Keppel  should  die. 

The  plan  was  laid  down,  then  the  charge  it  was  made, 
Augustus  accused  of  being  afraid 
To  fight  the  Monsieurs,  and  of  running  away, 
And  leaving  the  French  fleet  triumphant  at  sea. 

But  justice  and  Montague  there  did  preside  ; 
They  found  out  the  falsehood,  his  errors  descry'd ; 
The  jury  withdrew,  for  they  all  saw  the  cheat, 
Acquitted  Augustus,  because  he  was  great. 

This  true  son  of  Neptune,  couragious  and  bold, 
Will  fight  for  his  king,  and  by  him  be  controul'd ; 
To  minions  in  power  he'll  not  be  a  slave, 
The  French  he'll  chastize  with  a  heart  free  and  brave. 


KEPPEL    FOR   EVER  257 

So  now,  brother  sailors,  let  us  reunite- 
To  serve  under  Keppel,  the  French  for  to  fight ; 
His  name,  like  the  gold  from  the  furnace,  shall  shine 
In  Old  England's  annals  to  time's  latest  line. 

Then  fill  up  your  glasses,  and  let  them  not  stand  ; 
A  health  to  the  hero  that  doth  us  command  : 
May  each  British  heart  and  voice  say,  without  fear, 
•  A  fig  for  the  French  and  Sir  Hugh  Palliser  ! ' 


KEPPEL   FOR  EVER  I 

Smile,  smile,  Britannia,  smile,  on  Admiral  Keppel  smile, 

Thy  darling  son  ; 
With  laurels  crown  his  head  ;  go,  Fame,  his  glory  spread  ; 
His  name  monsieurs  do  dread,  from  him  they  run. 

Goree,  th'  Havannah  too,  where  shot  in  showers  flew, 

Keppel  so  bold, 
In  the  midst  of  the  fray,  he  to  his  men  did  say, 
•  We'll  shew  them  British  play  and  share  their  gold.' 

Tho'  he's  been  false-accused,  his  character  abus'd, 

Still  he's  the  thing  : 
Keppel  these  forty  years  has  serv'd  in  the  wars, 
Fear'd  neither  wounds  nor  scars,  for  George  his  king. 

But  Twitcher  and  his  crew  (I  mean  his  dupe  Sir  Hugh), 

Wicked  their  scheme  ! 
To  try  Keppel  did  call,  thro'  malice,  that  was  all. 
Lucifer's  pride  must  fall,  like  Admiral  Byng. 

Bonfires,  bells  did  ring  ;  Keppel  was  all  the  ding, 

Music  did  play  ; 
Windows  with  candles  in,  all  for  to  honour  him  ; 
People  aloud  did  sing,  '  Keppel  !  huzza  ! ' 

May  he  draw  his  sword  again  in  defence  of  George  his  king 

And  country's  right. 
On  board  the  Victory,  again  his  flag  does  fly. 
Monsieurs  will  feel,  by-and-by,  if  he  will  fight. 

S 


258  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Go,  go,  thou  base  Sir  Hugh,  vice-admiral  of  the  blue, 

Prythee  be  still ! 
Ah  !  what  a  wicked  dog,  to  splice  the  very  log ! 
Give  him,  instead  of  grog,  a  leaden  pill  ! 


A   NEW  SONG   ON  ADMIRAL  BARRING  TON 

Come,  all  you  jolly  sailors  of  courage  stout  and  bold, 
Come,  listen  to  these  lines ;  the  truth  I  will  unfold. 
Jack,  ensign,  and  pennant  in  the  morning  we  let  fly, 
We  engag'd  the  French  fleet  the  6th  of  July. 

Our  drums  they  did  beat  and  to  quarters  we  went, 
And  for  to  engage  the  French  fleet  it  was  our  intent ; 
Our  guns  they  being  loaded  with  round  and  grape  shot, 
We  beat  three  ports  into  one  on  board  the  Languedoc. 

There  was  Admiral  Barrington,  Britannia's  delight, 
With  courage  undaunted  he  boldly  did  fight  ; 
His  rigging  being  sbatter'd,  and  likewise  his  sails, 
He  still  kept  cannonading  on  board  the  Prince  of  Wales. 

We  had  one  floating  battery  carry'd  guns  upon  three  decks 
And  in  the  time  of  action  she  left  her  f  a  legs  [sic]. 
We  never  back'd  our  topsails  French  cannon  to  shun, 
But  boldly  ran  the  gantlet  with  Admiral  Barrington. 

If  Royal  George  of  England  will  give  us  the  grant 

For  Admiral  Barrington  to  have  the  command, 

We  would  conquer  the  French  fleet  were  they  ever  so  strong, 

We'd  hoist  the  British  colours  on  board  the  Count  d'Estaing. 

There's  Captain  Fitzherbert  was  valiant  in  the  fight, 
And  in  the  Royal  Oak  he  took  great  delight, 
In  the  loading  their  guns  and  discharging  so  free  ; 
It  shew'd  that  they  were  loyal  to  King  and  country. 

Come,  my  brave  boys,  this  engagement  is  all  o'er, 

And  when  that  we  return,  my  boys,  we'll  dance,  sing,  and  roar  ; 

This  song  it  shall  be  with  the  old  and  the  young  : 

Long  life  and  success  unto  Admiral  Barrington. 


PAUL  JONES  259 

Our  sweethearts  and  wives  they  arc  not  to  be  forgot  ; 
The  balls  they  now  eng  ige  with  are  softer  than  French  shot. 
When  e'er  we  do  return,  my  boys,  we'll  mike  these  culls  to  run, 
We'll  make  them  dread  the  sailors  that  fought  with  Barrington. 

Our  bowls  they  are  full,  and  we  have  plenty  for  to  drink. 

And  that's  the  thing  which  causes  me  to  drop  my  pen  and  ink  ; 

Whene'er  we   meet   the   French   dogs  we'll   make  their  jackets 

smoak, 
Whilst  Captain  Fitzherbert  commands  the  Royal  Oak. 


PAUL  JONES. 

An  American  frigate,  called  the  Richard  by  name, 
Mounted  guns  forty-four,  out  of  L'Orient  came 
For  to  cruise  in  the  Channel  of  Old  England's  fame, 
With  a  noble  commander  :  Paul  Jones  was  his  name. 

We  had  not  long  cruised  before  two  sails  we  spied, 
A  large  forty-four  and  a  twenty  likewise, 
With  fifty  bright  shipping  well  loaded  with  store, 
And  the  convoy  stood  in  for  the  old  Yorkshire  shore. 

At  length  the  proud  Pearson  came  up  alongside 

With  a  long  speaking  trumpet.    '  Whence  came  you  ?  '  he  cried. 

Come,  answer  me  quickly— I've  hailed  you  before — 

Or  else  a  broadside  into  you  I  will  pour.' 

Paul  Jones  he  then  smiled  and  to  his  men  did  say, 
'  Let  every  man  stand  to  the  best  of  his  play.' 
We  received  the  broadside  from  the  proud  Englishmen, 
But  soon  our  brave  Yankees  returned  it  again. 

We  fought  them  four  glasses,  four  glasses  so  hot, 

Till  40  bold  seamen  lay  dead  on  the  spot, 

And  55  more  lay  bleeding  in  gore, 

While  the  thundering  large  canons  of  Paul  Jones  did  roar. 

Our  gunner,  being  frightened,  to  Paul  Jones  he  came. 
'Our  ship  she  makes  water  and  is  likewise  in  flame.' 
Paul  Jones  he  made  answer  in  the  height  of  his  pride, 
'  If  we  can  do  no  better  we'll  sink  alongside.' 

-  2 


26o  SONGS   AND  BALLADS 

Oh,  now,  my  brave  boys,  we  have  taken  a  prize, 
A  large  forty- four  with  a  twenty  likewise, 
With  twenty  fine  merchantmen  laden  with  store, 
So  we'll  alter  our  course  to  the  American  shore. 


CAPTAIN  FARMER. 

The  muse  and  the  hero  together  are  fir'd, 
The  same  noble  views  have  their  bosoms  inspir'd  ; 
As  freedom  they  love,  and  for  glory  contend, 
The  muse  o'er  the  hero  still  mourns  as  a  friend ; 
His  name  from  the  jaws  of  oblivion  to  save, 
The  muse  shall  immortalize  Farmer  the  brave. 

His  ship  was  the  Quebec,  fatal,  glorious  name, 
The  source  to  Britannia  of  sorrow  and  fame. 
We've  twice  to  our  cost  that  name  ill-omen'd  found, 
But  now  we've  no  balsam  to  heal  this  fresh  wound, 
For  then  tho'  Wolfe's  loss  to  our  joy  gave  a  check, 
Whilst  we  morn'd  for  the  chief  we  rejoic'd  for  Quebec. 

At  daybreak,  ere  Phoebus  had  shed  his  blest  light, 
Three  sail  he  espy'd,  and  prepar'd  for  to  fight  ; 
October  the  6th,  anno  seventy-nine, 
With  a  forty-gun  ship  he  in  battle  did  join  ; 
At  nine  in  the  morning  began  the  fierce  fray, 
Which  without  intermission  held  most  of  the  day. 

Five  hours  and  upwards  the  action  did  last ; 

The  shrouds  were  all  torn,  and  they  lost  every  mast ; 

Tho'  thicker  than  hail  the  dread  bullets  did  fly 

Yet  still  to  his  men  gallant  Farmer  did  cry, 

'  Fight  away,  my  brave  boys ;  I  will  spend  my  last  breath 

Ere  I'll  yield  to  the  foe :  give  me  conquest  or  death.' 

At  length  the  proud  foe  was  constrain'd  to  retire ; 
They  steer'd  to  some  distance  and  slackened  their  fire. 
The  victory,  Hibernia,  had  then  been  thy  son's, 
But  the  sails  of  the  Quebec  were  fir'd  by  her  guns. 
Then  all  was  distraction,  confusion,  despair  : 
The  vessel  took  fire  and  blew  up  in  the  air. 


BOLD   BLADES  OF  OLD  ENGLAND   261 

Thus  fell  gallant  Farmer,  the  generous  and  brave  ; 
The  Rambler  in  vain  strove  his  life  for  to  save. 
Her  long  boat  she  hoist  out  for  to  take  up  the  crew, 
But  the  sea  rose  too  high,  and  too  hard  the  wind  blew. 
Seventeen  she  picked  up  on  the  waves  that  did  float ; 
The  barbarous  enemy  fir'd  at  the  boat. 

Ye  sons  of  Hibernia,  for  valour  renown'd, 

The  praises  of  Farmer,  your  hero,  resound  ; 

His  name  bright  shall  shine.     Then  a  truce  to  all  grief; 
Vernon,  Warren,  Tyrrell  shall  welcome  the  chW, 
And  the  brave  British  Cornwall  with  pleasure  shall  crown 
An  Hibernian  whose  exit  resembled  his  own. 

Taught  by  his  great  example  let's  danger  defy  ; 
For  the  sake  of  our  country  let's  conquer  or  die. 
May  our  navy  triumphant  ride  over  the  main, 
And  check  the  presumption  of  Gallia  and  Spain ; 
And,  oh  !  may  some  hero  rise  ere  'tis  too  late, 
Chastise  insolent  Jones,  and  revenge  Farmer's  fate  ! 


THE  BOLD  BLADES   OE  OLD  ENGLAND. 

Come,  rouse  up,  my  lads,  let  us  haste  to  the  main, 
And  load  home  our  chests  with  the  dollars  of  Spain, 
For  as  we  have  beat  them  we'll  do  so  again, 
And  ifs,  oh  .'  the  bold  blades  of  Old  England  ! 

They  tell  us  that  sixty  fine  ships  of  the  line 
Of  France  and  of  Spain  in  the  ocean  do  shine ; 
But  let  them  remember  the  year  fifty-nine  ; 
They  were  banged  by  the  blades,  etc. 

Those  villains  they  thought  some  advantage  to  take 
On  America's  land,  for  to  lessen  her  state  ; 
But  they  quickly  shall  know  it  was  all  a  mistake, 
Convinc'd  by  the  blades,  etc. 

How  proudly  they  came  with  a  numerous  host 
To  take,  sink,  and  burn,  and  to  land  on  our  coast  ; 
And  when  they  had  done  nothing  went  home  for  to  boast 
.  ( I  raid  of  the  blades,  etc. 


262  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Already  we  have  some  of  their  dollars  to  shew 
At  Liverpool,  Guernsey,  and  London  also, 
And  took  one  of  their  islands,  call'd  fanrd  Omoa. 
Oh  !  the  bold  blades,  etc. 

Brave  Rodney  and  Parker  have  done  the  thing  well, 
And  altho'  their  admirals  made  such  a  swell, 
Will  soon  be  sent  home  the  news  for  to  tell ; 
They've  been  drnb'd  by  the  blades,  etc. 

Bold  Rodney,  we  hear,  is  come  up  with  a  foe, 
Took  one  man-of-war,  and  five  frigates  also, 
With  about  eighteen  transports,  a  very  smart  blow. 
Oh  !  the  bold  blades,  etc. 

Then  come,  my  true  Britons,  and  fill  up  the  glass 
To  George  and  his  navy ;  around  let  it  pass, 
And  he  that  won't  pledge  it  proclaim  him  an  ass ; 
And  its,  oh  !  the  bold  blades,  etc. 


THE  ROYAL   SAILOR. 

The  foes  of  Old  England  (France,  Holland,  and  Spain), 

Made  bold  by  indulgence,  insulted  the  main  ; 

The  flag  of  defiance  together  unfurl'd, 

And  at  England,  Old  England,  their  vengence  they  hurl'd  : 

When  Neptune  arose  from  his  watry  throne ; 

In  a  coral  [red]  suit  he  most  beautifully  shone ; 

He  call'd  for  his  tritons,  and  bade  them  repair 

To  the  Court  of  great  George,  for  young  William  was  there. 

'  He's  royal,  he's  noble,  he's  chosen  by  me 

This  isle  to  protect  and  reign  prince  of  the  sea.' 

O'erjoy'd  at  the  message,  the  youth  rear'd  his  head. 

'  I'll  fight  like  a  prince,'  were  the  words  that  he  said  ; 

'  The  cause  of  my  country  I'll  boldly  espouse  ; 

To  the  sea  I'm  wedded,  and  give  her  my  vows. 

With  Rodney,  with  Digby,  with  Ross  I  will  go, 

And  die,  but  I'll  conquer  each  insolent  foe.' 

The  tritons  reported  the  words  that  he  said, 

And  Spain  heard  the  plaudits  by  Neptune  then  paid  : 

1  I  I,'s  royal,  he's  noble,  he's  chosen  by  me 

Britairts  isle  to  protect  and  reign  prince  of  the  sea.'' 


HOOD  AND  DE   GRASSE         263 

The  Dons  they  have  felt  the  effects  of  his  rage; 

No  more  with  blood  royal  they'll  dare  to  engage  ; 

For  he  stood  on  the  deck  with  his  naked  drawn  ^word, 

And  by  the  bold  Digby  he  passed  the  word. 

Humanity  touch'd  him,  tho'  not  with  base  tear, 

When  one  noble  ship  was  blown  into  the  air. 

His  courage  gave  rapture  to  each  jolly  tar, 

Who  look  on  Prince  William  their  bulwark  in  war. 

lie's  royal,  he's  noble,  lie's  chosen  to  be 

The  j-uard  of  this  isle  and  the  prince  of  the  sea. 


HOOD'S   CONQUEST  OVER    THE   COUNT  DE 

GRASSE. 

Come,  all  you  jovial  sailors,  give  ear  unto  my  song ; 
Let  joy  inspire  your  hearts  while  glory  leads  you  on. 
The  Count   de  Grasse  with  all  his  fleet  has  threatened  us  full 

sore 
That  with  his  great  armada  he'd  scour  the  British  shore, 
Our  ships  he'd  sink,  our  islands  take  all  under  his  command ; 
But  the  courage  of  bold  Britons  has  stopt  his  warlike  hand. 

The  proud  and  lofty  hero  in  Port  Royal  harbour  lay, 
And  on  the  eighth  of  April  from  thence  he  sail'd  away, 
And  with  his  floating  batteries,  in  all  just  thirty-three, 
A  large  convoy  of  transports  to  bear  him  company  ; 
With  troops  and  ammunition,  as  plainly  does  appear, 
For  to  besiege  Jamaica  his  course  he  strait  did  steer. 
He  thought  this  great  attempt  was  very  bold  indeed, 
But  now  I  will  unfold  to  you  how  far  he  did  succeed. 

For  Hood  soon  had  tidings  the  birds  had  took  their  flight 

That  he  with  so  much  diligence  had  watch'd  both  day  and  night ; 

Then  with  the  gallant  British  fleet  we  sail'd  from  St.  Lucia, 

Resolving  the  destruction  of  the  daring  enemy. 

It  was  on  the  ninth  of  April,  just  at  the  break  of  day, 

We  spy'd  these  lofty  Frenchmen  at  Dominica  lay. 

There  being  but  little  wind,  and  they  to  windward  were, 

In  spite  of  our  best  efforts  their  convoy  did  get  clear. 


264  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

The  squadron  under  gallant  Hood  receiv'd  a  gallant  breeze, 
To  brhV  the  French  to  action  the  present  moment  seiz  d  ; 
The  whole  French  fleet  we  did  engage  full  eight  glasses  or  more, 
And  with  our  little  squadron  we  well  paid  their  score  ; 
And  like  undaunted  Britons  each  man  stood  to  his  gun, 
Altho'  the  French  at  times  were  nearly  two  to  one. 
The  rest  of  our  fleet  coming  up,  on  them  began  to  play, 
Which  made  them  to  haul  their  wind,  like  cowards  run  away. 

Those  cowards  then  to  windward  three  days  we  did  pursue, 
Until  the  twelfth  of  April  the  glorious  fight  renew  d  ; 
The  wind  did  seem  to  favour  us,  our  fleet  hove  in  a  line, 
And  for  to  close  our  enemy  it  was  our  whole  design. 
Bold  Drake  led  the  van,  and  fully  bent  was  he 
To  die  or  else  to  conquer  the  daring  enemy. 
The  action  it  commenced  from  the  van  unto  the  rear 
And  we  brake  their  line  of  battle  amidst  the  smoke  of  fire. 
Their  Glory  was  dismasted,  our  shot  so  well  we  plied, 
While  fury  round  the  enemy  did  rage  on  every  side. 

So  closely  we  pursued  them  they  knew  not  where  to  run 

To  shelter  their  disabled  ships  from  the  fire  of  English  guns. 

From  morning  until  evening  the  battle  we  maintain  d. 

The  sea  on  every  side  of  us  seem'd  to  be  in  a  flame. 

The  lofty  City  of  Paris  and  haughty  Count  de  Grasse, 

The  one  we  took  a  pris'ner,  the  other  laid  avast. 

What   oyTnspr'd  each  Briton's  heart,  when  the  action  it  did  close, 

To  see  the  lilly  of  France  strike  to  the  English  rose. 

Now  the  lofty  Ville  de  Paris  to  Lewis  is  no  more  ; 

Behold   she  trims  her  lofty  sails  to  deck  Britannia  s  shore, 

With  three  more  of  their  lofty  ships  to  bear  her  company, 

And  two,  to  make  the  fight  compleat,  lay  buried  in  the  sea. 

So  now  bold  Lewis  think  no  more  bold  Britons  to  ensnare  : 

Ou    English  tars  will  curb  your  pride  j  your  boasting  we  don  t  fear. 

So   Brkons,  now  join  chorus  and  sound  our  admiral's  praise, 

Brave  gallant  Hood,  and  Drake,  the  terror  of  the  seas, 

All  captains  and  lieutenants  that  fought  with  courage  great, 

All  officers  and  seamen  throughout  the  British  fleet, 

For  we  have  and  will  still  beat  them  ;   so,  Britons  bold,  advance 

To  curb  the  boasting  insults  of  proud  and  haughty  trance. 


THE   LOSS   OF  THE   CENTAUR     265 


THE   LOSS   OF    THE    CENTAUR. 

Ye  landsmen  all,  I  pray  attend,  who  live  at  home  at  case, 
To  these  lines  that  I've  penn'd  upon  the  dangers  of  the  seas  ; 
Likewise  the  loss  of  the  Centaur,  a  gallant  man-of-war, 
Britons,  weep,  in  the  deep  lies  many  a  gallant  tar. 

This  ship  set  sail  from  England,  was  to  the  Indies  bound, 
But  at  her  returning  was  wind  and  weather  bound ; 
Such  dreadful  storms  arising,  her  rigging  tore  av 
And,  alas  !  all  her  masts  went  overboard  straightway. 

In  this  dreadful  situation  she  was  drove  up  and  down  ; 
Full  three  weeks  she  floated  ;  no  assistance  could  be  found  : 
Her  guns  were  all  thrown  over  to  lighten  her  the  more  : 
Night  and  day  they  did  pray  to  have  a  sight  of  shore. 

But,  to  add  to  their  sorrow,  another  storm  arose, 
And  to  the  dreadful  seas,  poor  souls,  they  were  expos'd  ; 
At  last  they  found  her  sinking  ;  the  air  was  rent  with  cries, 
Dismal  sound,  she  went  down,  never  more  to  rise. 

But  as  she  was  sinking  two  boats  were  hoisted  out, 

And  some,  who  got  on  board  them,  were  sadly  tost  about  ; 

And  one  being  overloaded,  she  sunk  and  went  down. 

Waves  beat  high,  no  ship  nigh,  so  that  all  on  board  were  drown'd. 

The  captain  and  twelve  sailors  were  all  who  did  survive, 
And  out  of  several  hundreds  these  few  were  left  al 
Tho'  they  were  almost  perish'd  with  hunger  and  fatigues, 
Xo  delay,  for  night  and  day  they  did  row  many  leagues. 

Only  three  days'  provisions,  which  they  made  last  for  nine, 

And  in  this  low  condition  of  land  could  see  no  sign  ; 

Full  sixteen  days  drove  up  and  down  before  they  reached  the 

land, 
Such  a  sight  was  a  fright,  so  weak  they  could  not  stand. 

Ye  landsmen,  take  compassion  on  those  that  plough  the  main, 
For  the  honour  of  the  nation,  its  rights  for  to  maintain. 
How  they're  exposed  to  danger  these  lines  do  plainly  show  ; 
We  [im]plore  that  no  more  may  such  hardships  ever  know. 


266  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

A   NEW  SEA   SONG   CALLED   THE  ROBIN 

HOOD. 

Come,  a!l  ye  young  «-"£t^:S? 
Oh  !  have  you  not  heard  of [the .valiant snip  ^ 

§KSS^w&& ««-»  »  hou, 

?™  hr^pSeers  inlt  belonged  unto  Spain, 
Who  thoughfour  British  courage  for  to  stain. 

S  te"  y0Uofbthe  priv^eS  ihey^arSed  us  Smigntway  : 
SS  hovet  the?'  ow  er  flasls  and  their  stinU-pots, 
But  we  repaid  them  with  our  small  shot. 

Thev  being  in  number  three  hundred  and  more, 

That  we  valu'd  them  not,  if  they  had  been  ten. 

Our  small  arms  did  rattle,  and  our  V*^™£?' 
Till  one  of  them  we  sunk,  and  the  o  her  run  a 
Such  a  slaughter  we  made  as  you  seldom ^shall  see, 
Till  an  hundred  and  eighty  we  drown  d  in  the  sea. 

Our  fight  being  over,  and  our  fray  being  done, 
And  every  man  then  scowenng  his  gun, 

lidsr^Si^,. 

We  were  forced  for  to  leave  him  at  G.braltai. 


NYMPHE   AND    CLEOPATRA         267 

But  now,  my  brave  boys,  we  are  plowing  of  the  main, 

In  spite  of  our  enemies  France  or  .Spain  : 

It's  all  for  to  gain  both  honour  and  gold, 

And  well  let  them  know  Little-John  won't  be  control'd. 

My  name  is  George  Cook,  the  author  of  this, 
And  he  may  be  hang'd  that  will  take  it  amiss. 


.-/   NEW  SONG   ON  THE   BATTLE   FOUGHT  ON 
THE   iSM  JUNE,    1793 

Between  the  La  Nymphe  Frigate,  of  thirty-six 
twelve-pounders,  commanded  by  Captain  Pellew, 
and  the  Cleopatra,  a  French  Ship  of  forty 
eighteen-pounders,  commanded  by  Monsieur 
Jean  Mullon,  with  350  men. 

Come,  all  you  British  heroes,  listen  to  what  I  say  ; 
Tis  of  a  noble  battle  that  was  fought  the  other  day  : 
And  such  a  sharp  engagement  we  hardly  ever  knew  : 
Our  officers  were  valiant  and  our  sailors  so  true. 

The  La  Nymphe  was  our  frigate,  and  she  carried  a  valiant  crew, 
With  thirty-six  twelve-pounders,  that  made  the  French  to  rue. 
At  daylight  in  the  morning  the  French  hove  in  sight ; 
Captain  Pellew  he  commanded  us  in  this  fight. 

Full  forty  eighteen-pounders  we  had  for  to  engage  ; 

The  French  they  thought  to  confound  us,  they  seemed  so  much 

enrag'd. 
Our  captain  cry'd,  '  Be  steady,  boys,  and  well  supply  each  gun  ; 
We'll  take  this  haughty  Frenchman,  or  force  her  for  to  run.' 

The  action  then  began,  my  boys,  [with]  shot  on  every  side  ; 
They  thought  her  weight  of  metal  would  soon  subdue  our  pride. 
I  think  the  second  broadside  her  captain  he  was  slain, 
And  many  a  valiant  Frenchman  upon  the  decks  were  lain. 

We  fought  on  with  such  fury,  made  ever)'  shot  to  tell, 
And  thirteen  brave  seamen  in  our  ship  there  fell, 
Tho?  forty-five  minutes  was  the  time  this  fight  did  last, 
The  French  ship  lost  her  tiller  and  likewise  her  mizen  ma 


268  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Then  yard  arm  and  yard  arm  we  by  each  other  lay, 
And  sure  such  noble  courage  to  each  other  did  display ; 
We  form'd  a  resolution  to  give  the  French  a  check, 
And  instantly  we  boarded  her  off  the  quarter-deck. 

Her  colours  being  struck,  my  boys,  she  then  became  our  prize, 
And  our  young  ship's  company  subdued  our  enemies, 
Altho'  they  were  superior  in  metal  and  in  men. 
Of  such  engagement  you  may  seldom  hear  again. 

And  now  in  Portsmouth  Harbour  our  prize  is  safely  moor'd. 
Success  to  all  brave  sailors  that  enter  now  on  board  ; 
A  health  to  Captain  Pellew,  and  all  his  sailors  bold, 
Who  value  more  their  honour  than  misers  do  their  gold. 


THE  DOWNFALL   OF  THE  FRENCH  FLEET. 

The  28th  of  May  the  French  fleet  hove  in  sight. 
Lord  Howe  he  made  a  signal ;  resolv'd  he  was  to  fight. 
Then  his  ships  in  a  line  he  drew, 
And  cannon  balls  straight  at  them  flew, 
Resolv'd  the  French  dogs  to  subdue, 
Like  brave  British  boys. 

On  the  29th  again  our  ships  in  line  we  drew  ; 
Resolv'd  was  each  man  the  action  to  renew. 
Admiral  Gardiner  then  the  line  he  broke, 
Which  in  our  favour  spoke, 
Crying,  'Monsieur,  we  will  make  you  smoke, 
Like  true  British  boys. 

At  last  the  glorious  day,  call'd  the  first  of  June — 
So  well  I  do  remember,  it  was  about  noon — ■ 
We  to  windward  of  them  lay, 
And  down  to  them  we  bore  away, 
Resolv'd  our  courage  to  display, 
Like  brave  British  boys. 


THE   FIRST  OF  JUNE  269 

And  then  the  bold  Brunswick  for  honour  she  did  try, 
ngside  the  I '    \  ur  two  hours  she  did  lie. 
;ain  Harvey  he  did  cry, 
'  My  lads,  we  have  orders  to  comply; 
Well  make  her  strike  or  else  we  11  die 
Li  he  brave  Brunswick  boys. 

Our  officers  and  our  ship's  crew  so  well  did gp rtheir  part 
Nine  shot  from  our  guns  in  her  copper  we  did  dart, 
Till  down  her  colours  she  did  hau  , 
\nd  to  be  boarded  aloud  did  bawl, 
Crying  out,  '  Monsieur,  we'll  sink  you  all, 
P  Say  the  brave  Brunswick  boys. 

other  on  our  larboard  side  to  beard  us  she  came, 
Md  to  put  us  all  to  death,  the  America  by  name  ; 
But  with  our  skill  we  all  did  try, 
And  three  broadsides  at  her  let  fly, 
-\nd  her  three  masts  on  board  did  lie, 
By  the  brave  Brunswick  boys. 

Success  to  Lord  Howe,  and  all  his  noble  fleet 
Such  a  set  of  fighting  fellows  together  ne  er  did  meet. 
May  they  together  still  remain, 
And  brave  Lord  Howe  still  rule  the  main 
For  to  subdue  Monsieur  again, 
Like  brave  British  boys. 

Success  to  King  George,  likewise  our  royal  Queen, 
S  may  they  be  hap°py  throughout  their  glorious  reign, 
And  may  God  forget  them  quite, 
That  will  not  go  and  fight, 
For  to  maintain  great  George  s  right, 
Like  brave  British  boys. 


270  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 


A   NEW  SONG    ON    THE   SEA   ENGAGEMENT 
FOUGHT  THE  FIRST  OF  JUNE  LAST, 

When  Lord  Howe  beat  the  French  fleet,  and  took 
seven  of  their  Ships,  viz.  La  Juste,  Sans  Pareille, 
both  of  80  guns,  L  America,  L Achille, 
Northumberland,  LLnipdttteux,  and  the  Vengeur, 
all  74-gun  ships,  but  the  Vengeur  sunk  very 
soon  after  she  was  taken. 

Printed  in  June  1794. 

Come,  all  ye  British  hearts  of  gold, 

A  glorious  tale  I  will  unfold 

Of  Howe,  who  fought  the  French  so  bold, 

On  board  the  Queen  Charlotte. 
On  June  the  first  this  fight  began  : 
Our  admiral  he  led  the  van  ; 
Our  shot  did  play  so  hot  that  day 
The  French  they  try'd  to  run  away, 

But  Howe  took  care  they  should  not. 

The  Charlotte,  with  Lord  Howe  therein. 
This  fierce  encounter  did  begin, 
[And]  bravely  threw  her  [broadside]  in 

Against  the  French  commander, 
Who  found  it  so  hot  that  day 
That  no  longer  there  could  stay, 
But,  crouding  sail,  he  bore  away  ; 

He  was  no  salamander. 

They  left  us  seven  ships  that  da; 
So  crippl'd,  could  not  get  away ; 
Like  logs  they  on  the  sea  did  lay, 

So  hot  was  their  reception. 
Two  of  them  carried  eighty  guns, 
Five  seventy-fours  were  noble  ones. 
Huzza  !  huzza  !  their  admiral  runs  ; 

He  could  get  no  redemption. 

Bravo  Bowyer,  Pasley,  Captain  Hutt, 
Each  lost  a  leg,  being  sorely  hurt ; 


THE  FIRST  OF  JUNE  271 

Their  lives  they  valu'd  but  as  dirt, 

When  that  their  country  call'd  them. 
Poor  Montague  was  kill'd  that  day  ; 
1  was  by  their  shot,  which  fierce  did  play 
Before  the  French  they  ran  away, 
When  we  so  sorely  raaul'd  them. 

Of  French  ships  there  were  twenty-six 
When  first  upon  them  we  did  fix. 
We  valu'd  not  their  Gallic  tricks, 

We  had  but  twenty-five  sail  ; 
We  being  British  sailors  bold, 
Who  value  honour  more  than  gold, 
Our  courage  has  been  try'd  of  old, 

We  ever  will  prevail. 

So  since  these  French  ships  are  brought  in, 
In  honour  of  great  George,  our  King, 
In  praise  of  sailors  let  us  sing, 

And  drink  to  each  brave  tar,  sir  ; 
For  they  are  lads  to  win  the  day, 
And  drive  the  boasting  French  away  ; 
To  face  our  shot  they  will  not  stay, 

Our  fame  is  heard  afar,  sir. 


A   NEW  SEA   SONG. 

Written  by  a  lieutenant  of  the  Belleropkon,  the  flag 
ship  of  Rear-Admiral  Pasley. 

The  First  Part  of  it  was  written  after  the  action  on 
the  29th  of  May,  and  was  sung  in  full  chorus  in 
the  wardroom  of  that  ship  on  the  evening  of  the 
31st  May,  the  night  previous  to  the  battle,  which 
ended  so  gloriously  for  the  British  Arms 

The  Second  Part  was  added  immediately  after  that 
great  event. 

To  the  Tune  of  /  was,  d'ye  see  ?  a  Waterman 

'Twas  on  the  twenty  eighth  of  May,  the  morning  being  clear, 
Ifleet  to  wmdwJ  wegespy'd  ;  they  Frenchmen  did  appear. 


272  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

The  signal   for   the   same   being   made,    the    chace   was   soon 
begun  ; 

And  then  for  battle  we  prepar'd,  to  shew  monsieurs  some  fun 
Our  ^ship   being   clear'd,    the  foe   we   near'd,   with  expectations 

That  we  should  show  the  murd'rous   foe,  that  British   courage 
still  would  flow,  6 

To  make  them  strike  or  die. 

The  fam'd  Bellerophon  began  her  cannons  first  to  play 

Upon  a  three-deck'd  ship  of  theirs,  which  could  not  run  away  • 

Our  hearts  of  gold  their  shot  well  told,  in  show'rs   about  "her 

'Till  the  Leviathan  came  up,  the  battle  to  divide  ■ 
Then  seeing  plain  'twas  quite  in  vain  the  contest  more  to  try 
She  struck  ;  and  this  does  shew  that   British  courage  still   will 
now, 

To  make  them  strike  or  die. 

Night  coming  on,  the  battle  ceas'd,  till  Phoebus  rose  again, 
When  we  beheld  this  trait'rous  fleet  still  vaunting  on  the  main  ■ 
Our  line  being  form'd,  and  all  hearts  warm'd,  the  fight  was  soon 
renew  d ; 

Determined  to  hand  down  that   flag,  which  with   contempt  we 
view  d.  * 

Lord  Howe  engaged  their  hottest  rage  ;  he  broke  their  line  to  try 
11  such  manoeuvres   would  not   shew  that  British  courage   still 
would  flow,  5 

To  make  them  strike  or  die. 

The  battle  warmly  was  maintain'd,  much  valour  was  display'd 
1  ill  night,  with  all  her  sable  train,  the  action  still  delay'd 
Now  since  again  all  o'er  the  main  these  rebels  can't  be  found 
Well  toast  our  admirals  in  our  glass;  our   girls,  too,    shall   Po 
round.  5 

Each   heart  shall  sing,  <  Long  Live  the  King  ! '  and  each  again 
reply, 

'  If  e'er  we're  call'd  again  we'll  shew  that  British  courage  still  shall 
now, 

To  make  them  strike  or  die.' 


THE   FIRST  OF  JUNE  273 

Part  II. 

We   anxiously  the    Frenchmen   sought   for   two   days   o'er    the 

main,  ,  .    . 

\nd  on  the  first  of  June  we  brought  those  rebels  to  again. 
I  ord  Howe  the  signal  made  for  each  his  opposite  to  take, 
Not  doubting  then  that  such  brave  men  would  soon  a  conquest 

mukc 
The  fight  began,  and  ev'ry  man  his  utmost  power  did  try 
To  make  these  traitors  feel  and  know  that  British  courage  st.U 

would  flow, 

To  make  them  strike  or  die. 

Two  hours  or  more  this  battle  was  with  matchless  warmth  main- 

Whe^Providence  smil'd  on  our  cause  and  vict'ry  for  us  gain'd. 
Thou-h  at  one  time  three  of  the  line  upon  our  ship  did   all 
Yet  we  so  well  our  shot  did  tell  that  we  beat  off  them  all. 
The  masts  of  one  were  soon  brought  down,  and  she  a  log  did 

To  make  these  '  sans-culottes  '  all  know  that  British  courage  still 

shall  flow, 

To  make  them  strike  or  die. 

Our  gallant  chief  commander  too,  by  three  was  clos'd  around  ; 
He  fought  so  bravely  that  the  foe  was  forc'd  to  quit  his  ground. 
Now  nine  or  ten  upon  the  main  dismasted  wrecks  they  lay ; 
And  all  the  rest  got  so  well  drest  they  did  not  ch use  to  stay. 
Thus  o'er  the  main  being  left  to  reign  to  England  soon we     hie 
With  all  our  prizes,  which  will  shew  that  British  courage  still  will 

flow, 

To  make  them  strike  or  die. 

But  one  small  tribute  let  me  pay,  which  justice  does  demand 
To  Admiral  Pasley,  who  this  day  was  ta  en  from  his  command. 
One  wicked  shot,  which  they  had  got,  his  leg  did  sever ^soon 
Which  robb'd  the  van  of  this  brave  man  long  eer  the  fight  was 

Yet  'rmdst  such  play  he'd  smile  and  say,  '  Fight  on,  my  lads,  and 

To  make  these  rebel  Frenchmen  know  that  British  courage  still 

will  flow, 

To  make  them  strike  or  die. 


274  SOATGS  AND  BALLADS 

My  shipmates,  now  let's  celebrate  a  day  of  great  renown, 
Which  will  this  victory  relate  to  ages  yet  unknown. 

£?umeLlet  ,US  raise  our  voice  t0  Praise  the  §allant  ^me  of  Howe, 
Who  by  this  check  the  stubborn  neck  of  France  has  made  to 
bow. 

May  peace  again,  and  all  her  train,  with  blessings  from  on  high 
Shine  on  our  Isle  !    then  all  shall  know  that  Britons  will  such 
courage  shew, 

To  make  them  strike  or  die. 


God  Save  the  King  ! 


THE  BLANCHE  FRIGATE. 

You  Frenchmen,  don't  boast  of  your  fighting,  nor  talk  of  great 
deeds,  'tis  in  vain ; 

Do  you  think  that  Old  England  you'll  frighten  as  easy  as  Holland 
and  Spain  ? 

We  listen  and  laugh  while  you  threaten,  your  boasting  the  valour 
of  France, 

Since  your  frigate  Le  Pique  has  been  beaten  by  the  jolly  brave 
tars  of  the  Blanche. 

She  sail'd  from  the  bay  of  Point  Petre,  four  hundred  and  fifty  on 
board, 

And  we  were  all  ready  to  meet  her :  to  conquer  or  die  was  the 

word  ! 
The   cans   of  good   liquor  were   flowing,    we  gave  them  three 

cheers  to  advance, 
And  courage  in  each  heart  was  glowing,  for  cowards  ne'er  sail'd 

in  the  Blanche. 

The  night  then  upon  us  declining,  the  moon  did  afford  us  a  light, 
Each   star  with    fresh   lustre  was   shining,  to   keep  the   French 
frigate  in  sight. 

The  breeze  gently  filled  all  our  sails,  our  ship  through  the  water 
did  launch, 

And  the  grog  flew  in  bumpers  and  pails  amongst  the  brave  tars  in 
the  Blanche. 


2/  5 


THE   BLANCHE   FRIGATE 

A:  midnight  we  came  alongside,  each  ship  being  prepared  for  the 

•HuSftVien  bold  Faulkner  he  cried,  <  we'll  conquer  or  perish 

So  theTga^usa  broadside  to  try  our  courage  and  found  us  all 

Not  am^n  there  but  rather  would  die,  than  cowardly  yield  up  the 
Blanche. 

The  fight  made  the  sea  seem  on  fire  ;  each  bullet  destructively 

Britannia  her  sons  did   inspire  with  courage   that   damp'd   the 

SayinFg'e'nCowCareds,  you  surely  must  die,  for  over  you  Death  turns 

Whikoufbai'ls  repeat  as  they  fly,  '  Fight  on,  my  brave  tars  of  the 
Blanche: 

Our  mainmast  and  mizen  being  gone  the  Frenchmen  they 
thought  us  their  own,  ,, 

And  with  '  Vive  la  Rtpublique  ! '  their  song  we  thought  they  would 
never  have  done.  .  ,     , 

We  joined  in  their  song  undismayed,  with  music  that  made  them 

d  nofrfaSe  note  was  there  played  by  the  harmonious  tars  of 
the  Blanche. 

When  Faulkner  resigned  his  last  breath  each  tar  gave  a  tear  and 

Suc^sormw  was  found  at  his  death,  but  we'll  soon  be  revenged 

But,  like  WoS  with  victory  crowned,  at  his  death  he  said  '  Ne'er 

mind  my  chance ;  _  -. 

Fight  on,  my  brave  boys,  or  be  drowned  on  board  of  our  frigate 

the  Blanche: 
Bold  Watkins  his  place  soon  supplied,  and  like  a  bold  Hector 

His  guns^th   more   judgment  to  guide,    for  the  death  of   his 

caDtain  enraged  ;  ,         ..     j;j 

And   who  could   our   fury  allay  when  Le   Pique   alongside   did 

The  masts   being   all  shot   away  we  grappled   her  close  to  the 
Blanche. 


276  SOJVGS  AND   BALLADS 

They  though  it  in  vain  to  withstand  ;  they  called  out  for  quarter 
amain.  4       Cl 

Although  the  advantage  they  had  still  Britons  were  lords  of  the 
m3,in. 

So  push  the  grog  round,  let  it  pass,  since  they  found  us  true- 
hearted  and  staunch  ; 

Every  lad  with  his  favourite  lass  drink  success  to  the  tars  of  the 
Blanche. 


THE  AMAZON  FRIGATE. 

Come,  all  you  British  seamen  bold,  that  plow  the  raging  main 
Come  listen  to  my  tragedy  while  I  relate  the  same 
1  is  what  we  underwent  all  on  the  raging  main 

B°Id^S^ldS  WaS   °Ur   commander  in   the    ship   called   the 

On  the  30th  of  December  in  Falmouth  as  we  lay 

Our  orders  came  on  board  our  anchors  for  to  wei<di  • 

Soj  Heave  away  ! '  our  captain  cried  •  <  we  have  no  time  to  spare  : 

Well  set  our  canvas  to  the  breeze  and  through  the  ocean  steer.' 

Our  anchors  weigh'd,  our  sails  were  set,  our  ship  she  seemed  to  fly  ■ 
It  was  the  Indefatigable  that  bore  us  company  7 

We  must  bid  adieu  to  our  sweethearts  because  we  must  cross  the 
rxicHrij 

Hoping  in  a  short  time  after  to  see  them  all  again. 

We  steered  our  course  to  the  southward  as  far  as  Cape  Finisterre 
Cruising  the  seas  for  several  days  and  nothing  could  ffind  therel ' 

InH  mT!g  dTn  the  C°£St  °f  SPain' three  merchantmen  we  took, 
And  sent  them  home  to  England  while  we  for  more  did  look. 

But  in  bearing  up  for  England  an  American  ship  we  see 
Lhat  gave  us  good  intelligence  the  French  was  at  sea      ' 
I  he  weather  it  was  thick,  and,  under  an  easy  sail, 
1  he  wind  it  blew  north-north-east  and  it  blew  a  briskish  gale. 

On  the  28th  of  January  a  man  sung  from  aloft 
That  he  spy'd  a  lofty  man-of-war  at  a  distance  three  leagues  off- 
She  s  a  very  lofty  ship,  the  truth  we  will  declare  ■ 
She  crowded  all  sails  she  could,  expecting  to  get  clear 


THE  SEVENTEEN  BRIGHT  STARS    277 

But  we  were  at  the  heels  of  her,  and  night  corning  on, 
At  six  c'clock  that  very  night  the  bloody  fight  begun. 
With  broadside  to  broadside  we  play'd  them  two  to  one, 
Till  the  blood  out  of  the  scupper  holes  all  in  a  gore  did  run. 

Both  round,  grape,  and  double-head  we  poured  in  so  fast 
[That]  at  eight  o'clock  that  very  night  down  came  [her]  mizen 

We  eneae'd  them  five  glasses  as  close  as  we  could  lay 
While  g^at  guns,  small  arms,  and  cutlasses  most  sweetly  they  did 
play. 

The  Frenchmen  all  for  quarters  aloud  to  us  did  cry  ; 
Their  colours  struck,  no  more  could  fight  for  love  or  liberty. 
But  the  remnant  of  their  shattered  crew  they  unto  us  tell 
That  out  of  fifteen  hundred  men  eight  hundred  of  them  fell. 

This  ship  was  call'd  the  Droits  de  F  Homme  ;  from  Brest  she  lately 

WlthCguns  mounted  ninety-eight  on  board  and  fifteen  hundred 

Her  intention  was  Ireland  her  troops  all  there  to  land 

But  bold  Pellew  and  his  ship's  crew  did  stop  their  warlike  band. 

Twas  early  the  next  morning  the  land  it  did  appear, 

Ind  they  were  so  disabled,  from  it  they  could  not  get  clear  ; 

And  we  were  so  disabled  we  could  not  veer  or  tack, 

But  down  alongside  our  enemy  we  soon  became  a  wreck. 

So  now  the  Indefatigable  is  bound  for  England's  shore 

To  let  our  suffering  country  know  the  Amazon  s  no  more. 

lull1; 'we'll  drink  tS  George  our  Kin,,  we'll  convince  him  of  the 

That  British  tars  for  evermore  rule  lords  of  the  mam. 


A    NEW  SONG. 


Come  all  you  bold  Britons  to  the  seas  do  belong, 
Of  the  seventeen  bright  stars  I  will  sing  you  a  song. 
On  the  15th  of  April,  at  Spithead  as  we  lay 
Lord  Bridport  he  hove  out  a  signal  to  weigh  : 
But  we  one  and  all  refused  to  obey. 


278  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

The  reason  unto  you  I  now  will  relate  • 

We  resolved  to  refuse  the  purser's  short  weight  ■ 

Th  t  h^?1!?  t0  Lord  Howe  we  sent       ' 
I  hat  he  to  the  Admiralty  write  to  present 

Our  provisions  and  wao-es  tlnr  thJZ-  \l 

u  vv^eb  mat  they  might  augment. 

But  soon,  to  our  grief,  as  you  shall  understand 

Whit  S  'v  QU£en  Charl0tte  wltho^  drePaPd  or  fear 

Wh.le  the  ships  manned  their  yards  with  a  thundering  loud  cheer 

Billy  Pitt  and  Dundas  soon  heard  of  the  news 
They  fell  in  a  rage,  and  the  tars  did  abuse 

^FoTporK  °r  ^  SpenCer  and  un*>  him  did  say  ■ 
For  th.  ?°Uth'  my  Lord'  and  make  no  delay  Y  ' 
*or  the  mutinous  tars  refuse  to  obey.' 

Lord  Spencer  unto  us  these  words  did  express  • 
Fm°Un  gneVanCe'  my  lads'  sha11  s°°n  be  Ss  • 
We  tffiT-^  haVC  §ramed  and  a  ^hming  a  day  ■ 
But  thf  v     a        h°n0Ur'  and  our  anchors  did  wei4 
But  the  wind  coming  west,  at  St.  Helens  we  did  lay 

Winch  made  our  proud  rulers  to  quake  and  'to  fear. 

!hvcn2lder,ing,C°lp0yS'  Vice- Admiral  of  the  blue 

Gave  oider  to  fire  on  the  London  ship's  crew 

Whi  e _  the  enemy  of  Britain  was  ploughing  the  sea 

He,  like  a  base  coward,  let  them  get  awav 

When  ,he  French  and  'their  t^spKled  for  Bantry  Bay 


THE  GENIUS  OF  BRITAIN 

kEBSSBB0 

gassssssSs 

Krisat«s«aar 

Rut  remember  the  t  5*  of  April,  I  pra> ) 
'  nd  our  wives  and  children  keep  a  hohday  i 
Vor  what  April  began  we  finish  in  Ma>. 

Drink  a  heahh  to  I  ord  Howe  in  a  M  Sowing  glass, 

2SS   ff^iWKS   OF  BRITAIN. 

The  Genius  of  Britain  went  hovering  round, 
ihe  uemub  u  Freedom  was  fled 

•KKSSaagsr"" 

fL  Britain  and  Freedom  they  own  d 

The  fleet  haild  the  goddess  with  three  hearty  cheers 

8  Jw^K^' "  ^edomwa,  there, 
True  Loyalty  sat  by  her  side , 

Britannia  sat  down  in  a  transport  of  jo>  . 
■  All  hail  to  my  heroes  1    she  cry  d. 


>8o  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

They  assured  her  that  if  they  we  e  treated  ,,:1,„ 
They  wou  d  stili  guard  her  favou  «e  sfe        me" 

A^fc  °  "^^t^M-ft.  sea 

Will  youi  nonest  endeavours  reward.'  ' 

The  Genius  of  Ireland  came  in  with  her  hum 
ney  man  d  the  yards  to  welcome  her  o'er 

1.11  Bntanma  and  Freedom's  no  more  g 


BRITISH  TARS  REWARDED. 

^xis^m??  lo,ng  toird '"  "»»• 

No  longer  neglected,  no  longer  forlorn 

Soon  met  with  ■tf^^'&'S'E'SS!?  ""^ 

Success  to  those  seamen  who  gain'd  us  !he  day  ! 


PARKER   THE  DELEGATE       281 

Adieu,  V~^££SSS,  £?»»  ** 

To  ngnt  tor  out        -,  proud  foe. 

Our  toils  arc  rewarded,  well  iace  tnc  pro 

Then  my  boys,  hois,  your  sails  to  Old  England  adieu, 
^  bufou?  ^  and  -  country  weTl  ^ 

Tk.ee  cheers,  lads  !  three  *~££Z£gS?  land. 

In  defence  of  our  «*££$£%£$£.  and  sing 
And  when  we  return,  ^ boys,  we  1  cm n  ,  ^  K]pg  , 

With  wives  and  with  sweethearts,  so  uu 

,    «*w   *ONG   ON  PARKER   THE   DELEGATE, 
'   HEW   OF  ™r.   MUTINY  AT  SHEERNESS. 

To  the  Tune  of  Tlie  Vicar  of  Bra? 
I  .a  not  sing  in  Partes  praise,  *££*$%£&,,  ;  . 

kin§>  sir'       ,   ,  ,i«  trv  destruction  for  to  bring,  sir. 

A"d  ~££  SSST^-S^S^  A«  M  your  Co, 

**.  the  means  has  brought  about w  seamen  to^rruot,  sir, 
And  like  a  danng  traitor  bold,  our  traac  a  ^^ 

%*£:  SSrSftS  &  -ve  no  reUance. 

7>^;/  Britons  all,  etc. 


-'82  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

An  admiral  he  calls  hi'm^if  «-„i 

On  board  the  wl/™dth  t^ZT^""5  Stati°"> 
Gives  law,  dispenses  li  e  and  dea  h  o   „    "T  the  E"««Sh  nation ; 
And  by  his  arbitrary  deed    hath 1,1  >?unisl™en'  disgraceful,      ' 
Then  Britol  aU%  ™Se'f  most  hateful. 

|d -nhfy  X  ^X  feutt  r  2*1  *«  P*—. 
WhaX^ik-  -  ^  -T"«Sdd0£SX  ^re 
TheCaS^r4  **»*  *»*>*  "c  '"em  «<  use,  sir. 

king,  sir;  y     °  ',ath  reared  gainst  country  and  'gainst 

w„0  &Sg^ortKltr„^sment  be  br^ *. 

And  though  h^o™-  S5-JJ2  ^  ;^;tu,d  ^ 
Parher  was  my  ,awful  husband,  my  boson,  friend,  whom  I  Wed 
S£l!*&teM£'  T  I"**  not  him  get  near, 

arm  high.  squired,  to  hang  him  on  the  yard- 

Thest%;.;:,id  ■*»«*«*»«»*  «* ,  on  shoferas  sent 

^corpse  °a°wlyWatChin&  '**  *  ^enuaid,  to  ,ahe  my  husband's 


ADMIRAL   DUNCAN  =»3 

M  dead  of  nigh.,  -hen  ail  was  silent  and  many  thousands  fast 
,  ^female  friends  attended,  into  the  buiying  ground  did 
Our  Sing  hands  did  serve  as  shovels  with  which  the  fould 

^dXTthfbodTof  my  husband  earned  off  without  delay. 

A  mourning  coach  for  himwas  waiting  :  we  drove  to  London  with 

all  speed,  ,      _rmon  0'er  him  said. 

Where  decently  I  had  him  buried and  a  ^monoe  ^ 

And  now  his  sorrows  arc  all  over,  and 

pain  ,  ,!••„„  «,v.^rp  T  shall  meet  with  him 

I  hope  in  heaven  his  soul  is  shining,  where  1  shall  n 

again. 
Farewell,  1'arker,  thou  bnght  angel  1  once  thou  ,-ert  the  Navy's 

SinceP«deCdid  not  die  together,  separate  we :  must  abide  ^ 

I  must  wait  awhile  with  patience ,  on  eartn  i 

WheHe  shail  meet  once  more  in  giory,  and  ail  our  sins  be 

wash'd  away. 


A   NE IV  SONG  IN  PRAISE    OF 
ADMIRAL  DUNCAN. 

By  J.  Pkat. 
Tune  Arethusa 

To  tame  the  Dutch,  our  teacherous  foes, 
And  give  Mynheers  a  bloody  nose, 
Brave  Duncan  to  the  I 

Expecting  they  would  meet  him. 
Many  boisterous  nights  and  days 
We  roll'd  upon  the  raging  seas, 
Enduring  hardships  various  ways  ; 
Wind  and  cold,  in  storms  we  roll  d, 

Yet  our  tars  and  admirals  bold 

Resolved  they  would  beat  them. 


*«4  SOJVGS  AND  BALLADS 

No  toils  nor  storms  the  Dutch  endure 
But  snug  at  home  they  sleep  secure 
And  judge  it  safe  not  to  unmoor      ' 
Wh»         e?Uncan  keePs  his  station 

^Jfbp  known  that  we  are  ^r* 

FresIawholeh  ^^  l°  take  °"  ^rd 

Thev°  K  St?reS  °Ur  isles  aff0^- 
ineyll  credit  the  relation.' 

IhndnmWoeore0d'  ?'  E^Iand's  ^ore, 

On,  l!f  ^^^re  refitted.  P^ 

P  epare,  my  lads  J '  he  loudly  cries  • 
The  proud  Mynheer  from  th.T     V 

Our  anchors  wLh~mX?n«  /^  SteCrS  ; 
We'll  ,ha,„  s       make  no  delay, 

Ve H ,'hew  0Ur  cowardly  enemy 
Us  in  vain  for  to  escape  us.' 

The  shore  we  cle-.rY?   -m^  ^a- 

a,-,^  .      .luru!  and  off  we  steerVl 

And  soon  in  sHit  th^  n„f„u         ^era, 

Each  tar  with  courage  sei/'H  h  ! 

At  twelve  the  bloody\fh"be";nSUn; 
At  every  fire  our  foes  exp  re  -g     ' 

We  drubbed  them  to  ourTeart's  desire  • 
God  prosper  British  sailors  !  ' 

Dutch  ships  eleven  with  fire  and  rage 

Did  fiercely  three  of  ours  engage 

But  we  their  fury  did  assuage" 

And  made  them  to  surrender  ■ 
^Winter  haul'd  his  colours  down 
And  their  vice-admiral  soon  did  own 
That- victory  British  tars  must  cVown  • 

E  can  d  to Tneihat  fruck'  but  fo»"  ' 

Tha   ,  ,  ithC,r  friends  on  shore 
1  hat  all  the  rest  were  taken. 


286  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

We  brought  her  to  England,  the  flower  of  France— 
Thus  thus  may  we  serve  all  who  dare  to  advance. 
She's'been  built  but  six  weeks,  and  her  guns  were  fourscore, 
Whilst  the  brave  little  Mars  carry'd  seventy  tour. 

Yet  see,  see  Britannia  with  sorrow  is  fill'd, 

For  brave  Captain  Hood  in  the  action  was  killd  ; 

Likewise  the  Marines  lost  their  captain  so  bold, 

His  name  it  was  White,  worth  his  lull  weight  in  gold. 

The  French  lost  three  hundred,  and  we  lost  threescore 
In  kill'd  and  in  wounded.     Thank  God  'twas  no  more  ! 
Here's  a  health  to  the  crew  of  the  brave  jolly  Mars, 
With  another  full  bumper  to  all  jolly  tars. 


VERSES  WRITTEN  ON  BOARD  HIS  MAJESTY'S 
SHIP  THE  ASTRsEA,  BY  THE  YOUNGER 
MIDSHIPMEN  OF  THAT  FRIGATE,    1798. 

When  in  the  cockpit  all  was  dim, 
And  not  a  mid  dared  show  his  glim, 

A  youth  was  left  alone. 
He  scratched  his  head,  surveyed  his  clothes, 
Then  took  the  other  cheering  dose, 

And  thus  began  his  moan  :— 

'  Ah  !     Cursed  be  that  fatal  day 
When  I  from  home  was  led  astray, 

In  this  damned  place  to  dwell  : 
Oh  !  had  1  in  the  country  stay'd 
I  might  have  learnt  some  useful  trade 

And  scorn'd  the  while  lapelle. 

1  When  first  on  board  the  ship  I  went, 
My  belly  full,  my  mind  content, — 

No  sorrows  touched  my  heart  : 
I  view'd  my  coat,  so  flash  and  new, 
My  gay  cockade,  my  hanger  too, 

And  thought  them  wondrous  smart. 


ADMIRAL   DUNCAN  285 

On  board  the  Ardent^  known  so  well, 
Brave  Captain  Burgess  boldly  fell ; 
His  loss  we  mourn,  but  fame  shall  tell 

His  worth  to  future  ages. 
Our  efforts  they  could  not  evade, 
Two  admirals  we  prisoners  made  ; 
Ships  of  the  line  we  captured  nine  : 
In  a  battered  state  the  rest  retreat, 
To  weep  at  home  their  sad  defeat 

On  the  glorious  eleventh  of  October. 

Let  every  loyal  Briton  sing 

God  save  great  George  our  King  ! 

And  in  her  train  may  Victory  bring 

Long  peace  unto  our  nation  ; 
To  Duncan  and  his  tars  success, 
Who  did  the  Dutch  so  warmly  dress ; 
And  Vincent  bold,  who  Spain  controul'd  ; 
With  Home  also,  who  aim'd  a  blow 
That  brought  the  fleet  of  Gallia  low. 

Success  to  all  true  Britons  ! 


A  NEW  SONG  ON  THE  ENGAGEMENT  FOUGHT 
BETWEEN  THE  MARS  AND  LA  HERCULE  [sic] 
APRIL  21,  1798. 

Bright  honor  now  calls — each  true  Briton  attend 
Unto  these  few  lines  which  here  I  have  penn'd. 
I  sing  of  a  battle  that  was  fought  at  sea, 
The  Mars  was  the  British,  the  French  ship  Hercule. 

Chorus. 

Then  fill  up  a  glass  to  each  tar  stout  and  good. 
Success  to  each  seaman — a  tear  for  brave  Hood. 


We  were  cruising  off  Brest  when  the  French  we  did  spy  : 
We  quickly  gave  chase,  but  they  from  us  did  fly ; 
We  crouded  each  sail  and  gave  them  a  broadside, 
Fought  them  more  than  two  hours  and  lower'd  their  pride. 


THE   BATTLE   OF   THE  NILE    2S7 

'  But  now,  alas  !  my  coat  is  rent ; 

My  hanger's  pawned  ;  my  money  spent  ; 

My  former  friends  I've  missed  ; 
And  when  of  hardships  I  complain, 
My  messmates  swear  'tis  all  in  vain 

And  cry  "  What  made  you  list  ? 

'  But  hark  !     I  hear  the  corp'ral's  tread  : 
Another  dose,  and  then  to  bed, 

Of  every  joy  bereft  : 
I  shake  my  bottle  with  a  doubt ; 
My  poor  half-pint  is  quite  drained  out, 

Not  one  kind  drop  is  left.' 

The  youth  with  indignation  burns, 
Into  his  hated  hammock  turns  ; 

Alas  !  not  long  to  sleep : 
The  quartermaster,  with  hoarse  tongue, 
\wakes  him  ;  says  'The  bell  has  rung  ! 

He's  roused,  his  watch  to  keep. 

Shiv'ring  he  walks  the  quarter-deck, 
Dreading  the  stern  lieutenant's  check, 

Who  struts  the  weather-side  ; 
With  glass  and  trumpet  in  his  hand, 
He  bellows  forth  his  harsh  command, 

With  arrogance  and  pride. 


THE   BATTLE   OF  THE  NILE. 
[Fragment.] 

Come  all  you  British  sailors  bold,  and  listen  to  my  song  • 
I  °S  well  worth  your  attention,  and  I  will  not  keep  you  long  ; 
It's  of  a  British  squadron  that  sailed  the  other  day, 
Commanded  by  Lord  Nelson  on  the  29th  of  May. 

We  had  just  twelve  sail  of  the  line,  our  fleet  it  was  no  more, 
Besides  a  frigate  and  a  brig,  to  cruise  the  Straits  all  oer. 
In  casing  of  those  French  dogs  our  intention  it  was  good 
With  the  wind  at  S.S.E.,  my  boys,  our  course  for  Naples  stood. 


288 


SONGS  AND  BALLADS 


Ba^mhetlenf^165  n0  FrenCh  fleet  had  been  th^ 
±sack  to  the  isle  of  Sicily  our  course  we  then  did  steer 

Where™  watered  all  our  warlike   ships,  likewifeTefreshed  our 
All  things  complete,  and  the  wind  set  fair,  we  put  to  sea  again. 

We  scarce  had  made  the  island  when  a  strange  sail  we  spied 
Gave  chase  and  soon  came  up  with  her-she  prove^he^l// 
Wth    i™  IVlal;a  Wf  taken  and  the  French  ^et  put  to  set 
'VeZn^t   °f   ^^    °Id    *"*•   °°    *°&    bouend    for 

And  there  we  spied  J2^^^  »o££ 

It  was  the  first  of  August,  Kfbetg  tT^StS^  ?»* 
When  we  began  the  action,  'twas  in  Aboukir  Bay. 

[The  next  verses  name  all  the  ships  in  their  order.] 
The  Zealous  led  the  way,  my  boys, 

All  followed  hv  fi,„  1    \a  is  '      the,  Be/ler°ph°n  and  Minotaur, 
All  followed  by  the  bold  Vanguard,  which  made  the  French  to 


10  rue. 


We  anchored  alongside  of  them  like  lions  bold  and  free 
When   their  masts   and   shrouds  came  tumbling  down  what 
glorious  sight  to  spp  i  s  ''  vvnat 


glorious  sight  to  see 


a 


I  hen  came  the  bold  Leander,  that  noble  fifty-four 
And  on  the  bows  of  the  Franklin  she  caused  her  -uns  to  roar  • 
Wh^h      a  d^ful  1drUbbmg'  h°ys>  and  did  severely  mlul        ' 
haul US      thGm  l0Ud  f°r  ^^  C^  and  do™  fi .colours 

Now  the  glory  and  the  pride  of  France  the  U  Orient  was  called 
And  in  the  centre  of  their  line  she  got  severely  mauled  ' 

Gave  her  a  dreadful  drubbing,  boy.?,  took  fire'ano I  up  she  blew 
With  fourteen  hundred   souls  on    board   which    bid"  this  worid 


THE  ARROW  SLOOP   OF   WAR     2X9 

And  now  we've  taken  the  French  fleet-Lord  speed  them  on  their 

Besidie^some  more  we  burnt  and  sunk  before  we  left  the  bay. 
Ma    we  always  prove  victorious  while  we  sail  on  the  seas, 
Aaainst  the  French,  the  Dutch,  the  Danes,  and  all  our  enemies. 


THE  ARROW  SLOOP   OF   WAR. 
You  Britons  bold,  that  never  was  controul'd,  come  listen  unto 

And TsW  to  you  I'll  sing,  none  but  the  truth  you'll  hear  : 
Concern*!  of  a   fight,  brave   boys,  which   happen*   late,  you 

Commanded  by  bold  Portlock,  and  the  ship  call'd  the  Arrow. 

Thp  most  0f  DeoDle  call'd  her  the  Carpenters  Mistake, 

B^e   shfePh0aPd   two   maintopsaU-yards,  and    head   and   stern 

TSf  v  said  she'd  prove  a  coffin  to  all  our  brave  ship's  crew ; 
Bmyintteaa  oFrhat,  my  Brittsh  boys  made  the  Dutch  dogs  to 


rue. 


We  being  new  constructed,  they  said  our  guns  were  leather  ; 
?hey  sTS  we  steer'd  by  sleight  of  hand,  they  could  not  see  our 

TheyUsakir  our  sides  were  gingerbread,  and  our  shot  were  made 

But  t°heClDutch  they  prov'd  full  sorry  on't  when  us  they  felt  that 
day. 

On  the  thirteenth  of  September  we  saw  a  P^^P^ 
All  at  anchor  in  Hallen's  stream  :   we  bore  for  her  straightwa>. 
In  full  fifteen  minutes  raked  fore  and  ait  we  were 
Before  we  could  come  up  to  her  or  bring  our  guns  to  bear. 

But  when  we  did  come  up  to  her,  our  anchor  we  let  go 

?neir  captain  cries,  'Come,  British  boys,  we  wdl  make  sur,  of 

But  when  we  did  begin,  my  boys  the  yards  and  nggngflew 
For  raking  us  we  paid  them  off,  both  for  the  old  and  new. 


r 


29o  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

The  second  broadside  we  gave  to  them  their  ensign  staff  came 

■  WeilXe,  my  boys  ! '  our  captain  cries  j  '  they  see  us  in  Halien 

stream  town  ,    .     ,        , 

How  we  do  use  their  shipping  so  nigh  unto  their  shore 
And  the  people  stood  a-looking  on,  and  heard  our  great  guns 

roar. 

For  five-and-twenty  minutes  so  swift  we  sent  them  shot, 
Our  action  it  was  very  short,  but  it  was  very  hot 
Whilst  thev  sung  out  for  quarter,  our  captain  he  did  say, 
™  st,  my  boyf,  with  honour,  we've  shown  them  British  play. 

'The  action  being  over,  and  the  pris'ners  safe  on  board, 
We'll  keep  safe  below,  my  boys,  and  toss  a  can  of  f^ 
And  when  we  come  to  Portsmouth,  with  a  girl  on  each  knee, 
We'll  spend  our  money  cheerfully,  and  then  again  to  sea. 

It  is  now  for  to  finish  this  my  warlike  song, 
I  am  a  saucy  foremast  Jack,  to  the .Arrow  do  belong. 
Tn  nraise  of  Captain  Portlock  and  his  officers  well  sm& 
And  not  forgetdng  the  Arrow's  crew,  and  long  live  George  our 
King! 


COPENHAGEN. 

Of  Nelson  and  the  north, 

Sing  the  day, 
When,  their  haughty  powers  to  vex, 
He  engaged  the  Danish  decks  ; 
And  with  twenty  floating  wrecks 

Crowned  the  fray. 

All  bright,  in  April's  sun, 

Shone  the  day, 
When  a  British  fleet  came  down 
Through  the  islands  of  the  Crown, 
And  by  Copenhagen  town 

Took  their  stay. 


COPENHAGEN  291 

In  arms  the  Danish  shore 

Proudly  shon 
By  each  gun  the  lighted  brand 
In  a  bold,  determined  hand, 
And  the  Prince  of  all  the  land 

Led  them  on. 


For  Denmark  here  had  drawn 

All  her  might  : 
From  her  battleships  so  vast 
She  had  hewn  away  the  mast, 
And  at  anchor,  to  the  last 

Bade  them  fight. 


Another  noble  fleet 

Of  their  line 
Rode  out ;   but  these  were  nought 
To  the  batteries  which  they  brought 
Like  Leviathans  afloat 

In  the  brine. 


It  was  ten  of  Thursday  morn 

By  the  chime, 
As  they  drifted  on  their  path 
There  was  silence  deep  as  death, 
And  the  boldest  held  his  breath 

For  a  time — 


Ere  a  first  and  fatal  round 

Shook  the  flood. 
Every  Dane  looked  out  that  day, 
Like  the  red  wolt  on  his  prey  ; 
And  he  swore  his  flag  to  sway 

O'er  our  blood. 


Not  such  a  mind  possessed 

England's  tar  ; 
'Twas  the  love  of  noble  game 
Set  his  oaken  heart  on  flame — 
For  to  him  'twas  all  the  same, 

Sport  and  war. 

u  2 


292  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

All  hands  and  eyes  on  watch 

As  they  keep ; 
By  their  motion  light  as  wings, 
By  each  step  that  haughty  springs, 
You  might  know  them  for  the  kings 

Of  the  deep. 


'Twas  the  Edgar  first  that  smote 

Denmark's  line  ; 
As  her  flag  the  foremost  soared, 
Murray  stamped  his  foot  on  board, 
And  an  hundred  cannons  roared 

At  the  sign. 


Three  cheers  of  all  the  fleet 

Sung  Huzza  ! 
Then  from  centre,  rear,  and  van, 
Every  captain,  every  man. 
With  a  lion's  heart  began 

To  the  fray. 


Oh,  dark  grew  soon  the  heavens — 

For  each  gun 
From  its  adamantine  lips 
Spread  a  death-shade  round  the  ships, 
Like  a  hurricane  eclipse 

Of  the  sun. 


Three  hours  the  raging  fire 

Did  not  slack ; 
But  the  fourth,  their  signals  drear 
Of  distress  and  wreck  appear, 
And  the  Dane  a  feeble  cheer 

Sent  us  back. 


The  voice  decayed ;  their  shots 

Slowly  boom. 
They  ceased — and  all  is  wail, 
As  they  strike  the  shattered  sail, 
Or  in  conflagration  pale 

Light  the  gloom. 


COPENHAGEN  293 

Oh,  death— it  was  a  sight 

Filled  our  eyes  ! 
But  we  rescued  many  a  crew 
From  the  waves  of  scarlet  hue 
Ere  the  Cross  of  England  Hew 

O'er  her  prize. 

Why  cease  not  here  the  strife, 

O  ye  brave  ? 
Why  bleeds  old  England's  band 
By  the  fire  of  Danish  land, 
That  smites  the  very  hand 

Stretched  to  save  ? 


But  the  Britons  sent  to  warn 

Denmark's  town : 
'Proud  foes,  let  vengeance  sleep 
If  another  chain-shot  sweep- 
All  your  navy  in  the  deep 
Shall  go  down. 


Then,  peace  instead  of  death 

Let  us  bring  ! 
If  you'll  yield  your  conquered  fleet, 
With  the  crews,  at  England  s  teet, 
And  make  submission  meet 

To  our  King.' 

The  Dane  returned,  a  truce 

Glad  to  bring : 
He  would  yield  his  conquered  fleet, 
With  the  crews,  at  England  s  teet, 
And  make  submission  meet 

To  our  King. 

Then  Death  withdrew  his  pall 

From  the  day ; 
And  the  sun  looked  smiling  bright 
On  a  wide  and  woful  sight 
Where  the  fires  of  funeral  light 

Died  away. 


294  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Yet,  all  amidst  her  wrecks 

And  her  gore, 
Proud  Denmark  blest  our  chief 
That  he  gave  her  wounds  relief  ; 
And  the  sounds  of  joy  and  grief 

Filled  her  shore. 


All  round,  outlandish  cries 

Loudly  broke  ; 
But  a  nobler  note  was  rung 
When  the  British,  old  and  young, 
To  their  bands  of  music  sung 

'  Hearts  of  Oak  ! ' 


Cheer  !  cheer  !  from  park  and  tower, 

London  town  ! 
When  the  King  shall  ride  in  state 
From  St.  James's  royal  gate, 
And  to  all  his  peers  relate 

Our  renown  ! 


The  bells  shall  ring  !  the  day 

Shall  not  close, 
But  a  blaze  of  cities  bright 
Shall  illuminate  the  night, 
And  the  wine-cup  shine  in  light 

As  it  flows. 


Yes — yet  amid  the  joy 

And  uproar, 
Let  us  think  of  them  that  sleep 
Full  many  a  fathom  deep, 
All  beside  thy  rocky  steep, 

Elsinore  ! 


Brave  hearts,  to  Britain's  weal 

Once  so  true  ! 
Though  death  has  quenched  your  flame, 
Yet  immortal  be  your  name  ! 
For  ye  died  the  death  of  fame 

With  Riou. 


ACTION   OFF  COPENHAGEN     295 

Soft  sigh  the  winds  of  Heaven 

O'er  your  grave  ! 
While  the  billow  mourniul  rolls 
And  the  mermaid's  song  condoles, 
Singing— glory  to  the  souls 
°  Of  the  brave. 


ACTION  OFF  COPENHAGEN. 

You  undaunted  sons  of  Britannia,  lend  an  ear, 

A  story  concerning  a  fight  you  shall  hear. 

ft  was  on  March  the  12th,  my  boys,  our  fleet  did  sail 

OuTof  Yarmouth  with  a  sweet  and  pleasant  gale. 

Our  Commander-in-Chief,  Admiral  Parker  by  name, 
And  Vice-Admiral  Nelson,  that  man  of  great  fame, 

On  the  second  of  April  it  was  the  f^no^J 
When  bold  Nelson's  division  they  got  under  weigh 
Each  ship  set  for  action,  each  man  to  his  gun, 
ResoWd  so  boldly  we  was  for  to  run. 

It  was  into  the  roads  where  the  Danish  flag  did  fly, 

Determin'd  alongside  of  their  Aeetfor  to  lie  , 

Said  we  will  make  them  to  strike,  my  boys,  or  else  we 

There°fornto  storm  and  set  fire  to  their  town. 

The  first  was  the  Edgar,  she  did  lead  the  van. 

At  eleven  o'clock  the  heavy  fire  began. 

The  Ardent  and  Glatton,  the  rest  did  the  same 

The  Defiance  and  Monarch  behaved  With  great  tame. 


296  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Then  in  came  Lord  Nelson,  in  the  Elephant- 
TKuffT,and  Ganges,  so  boldly  they  went ; 
1  he  bold  Polyphemus  run  in  the  same  way 
And  the  brave  little  Isis  her  part  she  did  play. 

The  Amazon ,  the  Hermione,  the  Desire'e  and  Blanch 
They  anchor'd  in  the  line  and  behav'd  so  staunch  • 
^Otter  and  the  Dart  they  anchor'd  also, 
Until  by  a  signal  was  forc'd  for  to  go. 

Now  these  four  frigates  that  we  have  mentioned  here 
And  two  little  sloops  that  run  in  without  fear  ' 

Ihey  all  run  and  anchor'd  alongside  the  fleet! 
Iheir  forts  the  same  time  they  began  to  defeat. 

But  so  great  was  their  mistake,  at  about  four  o'clock 
They  found  they  could  no  longer  stand  our  shot  • 

And  ?hT^attene!,We  d?r'd'  ^  b°ys>  which  was  our  own  desire 
And  the  town  in  three  places  our  bombs  set  on  fire. 

Seven  of  their  two-deckers  to  us  they  did  strike 
«  w  if'j  floatln§  batteries  likewise  did  the  like   ' 

Well  done,  my  brave  boys  ! '  said  Lord  Nelson  :  <  that's  right 
For  your  courage  and  mine  you  have  displayed  in  this  fight? 

So  now,  my  brave  boys,  let  it  never  be  said 
I  hat  ever  Lord  Nelson  or  Graves  was  afraid 
buccess  to  our  officers  throughout  the  whole  fleet 
Inat  encouraged  the  Britons  the  Danes  to  defeat.' 

So  now  [to  conclude  and  to  finish  my  losl 
Call  up  the  steward  to  serve  out  the  grog 

Fnerr5/>nealth  t0  °U\  Wives  and  sweethearts  at  home, 
For  they  11  give  us  a  glass  when  to  England  we  come. 

A  NEW  SONG   ON  LORD  NELSON'S   VICTOR Y 
AT  COPENHAGEN 

Draw  near,  ye  gallant  seamen,  while  I  the  truth  unfold 
Ut  as  gallant  a  naval  victory  as  ever  yet  was  told 

ParWCMl        y  °f/Puri!  ^  UP°n  thG  Baltic  m^in, 
Parker,  Nelson  and  then  brave  tars  fresh  laurels  there  did  gain 
With  their  thundering  and  roaring,  rattling  and  roarL 
Thundering  and  roaring  bombs.  wring, 


BOULOGNE  297 

ant  Nelson  volunteered  himself,  with  twelve  sail  form'd  a  line, 
And  in  the  Road  of  Copenhagen  he  began  his  grand  design  ; 
His  tars,  with  usual  courage,  their  valour  did  display, 
And  destroy'd  the  Danish  navy  upon  that  glorious  day. 
With  their,  etc. 

With  strong  floating  batteries  in  van  and  rear  we  find, 

The  enemy  in  centre  had  six  ships  of  the  line — 

At  ten  that  glorious  morning  the  fight  begun,  it's  true  ; 

Copenhagen  set  on  fire,  my  boys,  before  the   clock  struck 

two. 

With  their,  etc. 

When  this  armament  we   had   destroy'd,  we  anchor'd   near  the 

town, 
And  with  our  bombs  were  fully  bent  to  burn  their  city  down  ; 
Revenge   for   poor  Matilda's  wrongs   our  seamen  swore  they'd 

have ; 
But  they  sent  a  flag  of  truce  on  board,  their  city  for  to  save. 
With  their,  etc. 

For  the  loss  of  his  eye  and  arm,  bold  Nelson  does  declare, 

The  foes  of  his  country  not  an  inch  of  them  he'll  spare  ; 

The  Danes  he's  made  to  rue  the  day  that  they  ever  Paul  did 

join, 
Eight  ships  he  burnt,  four  he  sunk,  and  took  six  of  the  line. 
With  their,  etc. 

Now  drink  a  health  to  gallant  Nelson,  the  wonder  of  the  world, 
Who,  in  defence  of  his  country,  his  thunder  loud  has  hurled  ; 
And  to  his  bold  and  valiant  tars  who  plough  the  raging  sea, 
And  who  never  were  afraid  to  face  the  daring  enemy. 
With  their,  etc. 


A   NEW  SONG   COMPOSED  BY  THE    WOUNDED 
TARS  AT  THE  SIEGE   OF  BOULOGNE. 

On  the  second  day  of  August,  eighteen  hundred  and  one, 
We  sailed  with  Lord  Nelson  to  the  port  of  Boulogne, 
For  to  cut  out  their  shipping,  which  was  all  in  vain — 
To  our  great  misfortune,  they  were  all  moored  with  chain. 


298  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Our  boats  being  well  manned,  by  eleven  at  night, 
To  cut  out  their  shipping,  not  expecting  they  would  fight  ; 
But  the  grape  from  their  batteries  so  smartly  did  play, 
Nine  hundred  brave  seamen  killed  and  wounded  did  lay. 

We  hoisted  our  colours,  and  boldly  them  spread, 
With  the  British  flag  flying  at  the  royal  mast-head  ; 
For  the  honour  of  England  we  will  always  maintain, 
While  bold  British  seamen  plough  the  watery  main. 

Exposed  to  the  fire  of  the  enemy  we  lay, 
While  ninety  bright  pieces  of  cannon  did  play ; 
There  many  brave  seamen  then  lay  in  their  gore, 
And  the  shot  from  their  batteries  most  smartly  did  pour. 

Our  noble  commander,  with  his  heart  full  of  grief, 

Used  every  endeavour  to  afford  us  relief; 

No  ship  could  assist  us,  as  well  he  did  know, 

In  this  wounded  condition  we  were  toss'd  to  and  fro. 

All  you  who  relieve  us,  the  Lord  you  will  bless 
For  relieving  poor  seamen  in  times  of  distress  ; 
May  the  Lord  put  an  end  to  all  cruel  wars, 
Send  peace  and  contentment  to  all  British  tars. 


FRANCE  COVER  D  WITH  GLORY,  BEING  A 
FAITHFUL  NARRATIVE  TAKEN  FROM  THE 
REPORT  OF  THE  GALLANT  ADMIRAL  LINO  IS. 

Good  people  all,  I  pray  attend  a  most  surprising  story  : 
'Tis  of  an  action  on  the  main,  that  cover'd  France  with  glory. 
'Twas  on  the  ninth  day  of  July,  from  Cadiz  post  away 
Six  sail  o'  th'  line,  and  frigates  three,  to  Algesiras  Bay. 

For,  kept  by  th'  English  in  blockade,  the  mighty  Linois  lay, 
With  five  large  ships,  a  frigate  too,  in  Algesiras  Bay. 
These  to  relieve  Moreno  came,  not  to  engage  in  fight, 
But  to  the  port  of  Cadiz  straight  with  them  combine  in  flight. 


FRANCE   COVERED    117  77/   GLOR)'  2 


99 


A  fresh  east  wind  rose  on  the  twelfth— the  French  and  Spaniards 

go, 
tor  Cadiz  swiit  they  sail,  and  take  the  Hannibal 'in  tow. 
Now  this  same  eastward  gale,  alas  I  brought  on  the  English  fleet 
Who  seem  to  wish  for  nothing  more  than  enemies  to  meet. 

Five  sail  o'th'  line  the  English  had,  a  frigate  and  a  brig 

They  came  as  if  they  did  not  care  for  France  and  Spain  a  fig. 
The  night  came  on,  and  France  and  Spain  were  very  much  in 

fear, 
As  stronger  grew  the  eastern  breeze,  more  English  might  appear. 

Hence  they  were  puzzled  what  to  do— that  is,  which  way  to  fly — 
For  what,  indeed,  are  France  and  Spain  when  British  tars  are  nigh  ! 
At  length  th'  allies  heard  cannon  three,  and  fires  saw  far  behind — 
They  thought  them   English   signals,  so  they  push'd  before  the 
wind. 

Then  they  congratulate  themselves  that  they  were  got  together, 
And  that  they  sail'd  so  very  well  beyond  Old  England's  tether. 
A  conflagration  soon  they  saw  burst  through  the  dark  of  night, 
Which  seem'd  to  be  their  ships  on  fire — Oh  !  then  how  great 
their  fright  ! 


Such  their  first  thoughts  ;  but  soon  they  fear'd  'twas  fire-ships  of 

the  foe : 
That  was  enough  to  urge  their  speed,  and  wondrous  fast  they  go. 
No  longer  there  could  be  a  doubt,  the  foe  has  pass'd  the  Strait ; 
Nay,  they  had  reach'd  the  Gallic  wake — there  was  no  time  to  wait. 


The   French  at  their   maintop- mast-head   had  put  the   light   to 

rally ; 
But  pull'd  it   down  when  th'  English  came,  lest  they  too  near 

might  sally. 
For  well  the  wary  Frenchmen  knew,  if  they  hold  forth  a  light, 
It  must  have  led  the  English  on,  to  force  them  into  fight. 

The  night  the  French  in  anguish  pass'd,  because  it  did  not  show 
Whether  some  ships  that  were  in  sight  were  enemies  or  no. 
At  length  the  day  dispers'd  their  fears— a  day  it  was  most  sweet ; 
For  why  ? — the  French  soon  found  themselves  in  midst  of  their 
own  fleet. 


3oo  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

At  five  o'clock  they  heard  a  sound  that  did  denote  a  fray, 
Which  made  the  Frenchmen  all  rejoice  they  were  so  far  away. 
The  wind  about  eleven  rose — four  vessels  came  in  view : 
They  thought  them  friends,  but  found  them  foes,  and  then  again 
they  flew. 

The  Formidable  then  they  saw  driving  before  the  wind, 

As  if  she  said,  'The  Devil  take  all  those  that  are  behind.' 

At  length  the  French  with  rapture  found  they  need  not  fret  and 

chafe, 
The  foe  they  had  escap'd  and  then  anchor'd  in  Cadiz  safe. 
And  now  to  all  our  naval  lads  may  Heav'n  still  give  a  blessing — 
And  if  defeat  with  glory  clads,  may  France  ne'er  want  a  dressing  ! 


LA   LOIRE  FRIGATE,    OR    YEO !    YEO ! 

Written  by  Mr.  C.  Dibdin,  Jun.,  composed  by 
Mr.  Reeve,  and  sung  by  Mr.  Slader  at  Sadler's 
Wells. 


Off  Cape  Finisterre  lay  the  king's  ship  La  Loire, 
When  a  privateer  foe  Captain  Maitland  he  saw. 
So  a  boat's  crew  he  sent  with  Spaniard  to  cope, 
Who  was  call'd  IJEsperance,  in  plain  English  the  Hope, 
Tho'  but  a  forlorn  hope  she  prov'd  for  the  foe, 
Made  a  prize  by  the  boat's  crew  and  Lieutenant  Yeo. 

Sing  Yeo  !   Yeo  !  for  ever  !   Yeo  !   Yeo  !  for  ever  ! 

Pull  away,  pull  away,  pull  pull  away, 
With  a  hearty  Yeo  !   Yeo  !  with  a  hearty  Yeo  I    Yeo  ! 

1  'Tis  the  birth  of  your  king,  boys,'  the  captain  he  cried, 
'  To  crown  it  with  victory  then  be  your  pride  ; 
Yes,  the  birth  of  your  sovereign  distinguish,  in  short, 
By  planting  his  flag  on  yon  proud  Spanish  fort.' 
So  the  gallant  boat's  crew  volunteer'd  all  to  go, 
To  conquer  or  die  with  brave  Lieutenant  Yeo. 
Sing  Yeo  !    Yeo  I  for  ever,  etc. 


LA    LOIRE  FRIGATE 

Then  Lieutenant  Veo,  to  his  lasting  renown, 
The  fort  he  knock'd  up  and  the  (  tovernor  down 
J  he  Dons  captur'd  ensign  wavd  over  his  head 
And  planted  the  flag  of  King  ( leorge  in  its  stead. 
Let  the  trumpet  of  fame  then  through  all  the  world  blow 
To  the  glory  of  Britons  and  Lieutenant  Veo 
Sing  Veo  !   Veo  /  for  ever,  etc. 


\o\ 


NELSON'S  GLORIOUS    VICTORY  AT  TRAFALGAR. 

Arise,  arise,  brave  Britons  ! 

Perform  your  loudest  lays, 
And  join  me  in  a  chorus 

To  sing  Britannia's  praise. 
Once  more  the  hero  of  the  Nile 
Did  seek  to  make  Britannia  smile 
W  ith  another  victory  on  the  file— 
O  brave  Nelson ! 

October,  on  the  twenty-first, 

It  being  a  glorious  day, 
The  combined  fleets  of  France  and  Spain 

Were  just  off  Cadiz  Bay  ; 
Their  ships  in  number  thirty-three— 
And  Nelson,  when  he  did  them  see, 
Said,  '  Twenty  then  there  is  for  me.' 
O  brave  Nelson  ! 

The  signal  made  for  fighting, 

Cannon  began  to  roar ; 
Our  ships  in  number  twenty-seven, 

We  shook  the  Spanish  shore  j 
And  Nelson,  on  the  deck  so  high, 
Aloud  unto  his  men  did  cry, 
;  We'll  conquer  them,  my  lads,  or  die. 
O  brave  Nelson  ! 

He  broke  their  line  of  battle, 

And  struck  the  fatal  blow  ; 
He  blew  some  up  into  the  air, 

And  some  he  sent  below. 


302  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

But  then,  with  victory  on  his  side, 
A  fatal  ball  his  life  destroyed, 
He  in  the  midst  of  glory  died. 
O  brave  Nelson  ! 

When  the  hero  brave  was  dying, 
And  with  his  parting  breath, 

He  pray'd  for  England's  glory 
Till  the  moment  of  his  death. 

'  Farewell,  my  lads  !     My  glass  is  run, 

This  day  must  be  my  setting  sun  ; 

But,  Providence,  thy  will  be  done.' 
O  brave  Nelson  ! 

The  battle  being  over, 

Which  was  a  bloody  fray, 
We  twenty  of  their  finest  ships 

From  them  did  take  away. 
Now,  Bonaparte  !  boast  no  more 
To  land  upon  our  native  shore, 
Lest  you  in  pieces  should  be  tore, 
Through  brave  Nelson. 

May  Collingwood's  and  Hardy's 

Like  Nelson's  fame  resound, 
And  all  our  force  by  land  and  sea 
With  good  success  be  crowned ; 
May  Britain's  trade  and  wealth  increase, 
And  wars  and  tumults  ever  cease, 
And  may  we  have  a  lasting  peace, 
Through  brave  Nelson. 


A   NEW  SONG   COMPOSED   ON  THE  DEATH 
OF  LORD  NELSON 

Come  all  you  gallant  seamen  that  unite  a  meeting, 
Attend  to  these  lines  I  am  going  to  relate, 

And  when  you've  heard  them  'twill  move  you  with  pity, 
To  hear  how  Lord  Nelson  he  met  with  his  fate ; 


THE  DEATH   OF  NELSON 


303 


For  he  was  a  bold  and  undaunted  commander 

As  ever  did  sail  on  the  ocean  so  wide 
He  made  both  the  French  and  the  Spaniards  surrender 
By  pouring  always  into  then,  a  broadside 

Mourn,  England,  mourn,  mourn  and  complain 
For  the  loss  o/l,  r,    \   :i0n  who  died  ()n  fg  w;//7 

One  hundred  engagements  he  had  been  in,  sir 

tk  "?  5f  f  m  h'S  lltc  was  he  know"  to  be  beat, 
I  ho  hed  lost  an  arm,  likewise  a  right  eye,  sir 

No  power  on  earth  ever  could  him  defeat     ' 
His  age  at  his  death  it  was  forty  and  seven  ' 

And  as  long  as  I  breathe  his  great  praises  I'll  sin- 
tor  the  whole  navigation  to  him  was  riven  S' 

Because  he  was  loyal  and  true  to  his  king. 
Mourn,  England,  mourn,  etc. 

Like  an  undaunted  hero,  exposed  to  the  fire 

He  gave  his  command,  on  the  quarter-deck  stood, 
lo  hear  of  his  actions  you  would  much  admire 

To  see  the  decks  covered  all  with  human  blood. 
From  aloft  to  below  where  he  was  commanding, 

All  by  a  French  gun  he  received  a  ball 
And  by  the  contents  he  got  mortally  wounded 

And  that  was  the  cause  of  Lord  Nelson's  fall 
Mourn,  England,  mourn,  etc. 

Then  up  steps  the  doctor  in  a  very  great  hurry 
And  unto  Lord  Nelson  these  words  he  did  say 
Indeed  then,  my  lord,  I  am  very  sorry 
To  see  you  here  lying  and  bleeding  this  way  ' 
I\o  matter,  no  matter  whatever  about  me 
My  time  ,t  has  come— I  am  almost  at  the  worst, 
But  there  s  my  gallant  seamen  fighting  so  boldly, 
Discharge  of  your  duty  unto  them  all  first.' 
Mourn,  England,  mourn,  etc. 

Then  with  a  loud  voice  he  called  out  to  his  captain 

rray  let  me,  sir,  know  how  the  battle  does  ]lo 
for  I  think  our  great  guns  continue  to  rattle, 
(     [hough  death  is  approaching  I  firmly  do  know  ' 
1  he  antagonist's  ship  is  gone  to  the  bottom 

Fonr^n60  we.have5?ptur'd  and  brought  them  on  board, 
*our  more  we  have  blown  clean  out  of  the  ocean 
And  this  is  the  news  I  have  brought  you,  my  lord.' 
Mourn,  England,  mourn,  etc. 


304  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Come  all  you  gallant  seamen  that  unite  in  a  meeting. 

Always  let  Lord  Nelson's  memory  go  round, 
For  it  is  your  duty  when  you  unite  in  a  meeting, 

Because  he  was  loyal  and  true  to  the  crown. 
So  now  to  conclude,  and  to  finish  these  verses, 

Here's  God  bless  all  seamen  that  speak  for  his  good, 
May  the  heavens  go  with  you,  and  ten  thousand  blessings 

Still  rest  on  the  fleet  and  brave  Collingwood. 
Mourn,  England,  mourn,  etc. 


ADMIRAL    STR A  CHAN'S    VICTORY. 

Tune — Hearts  of  Oak. 

Though  with  tears  we  lament  our  great  Nelson's  demise, 
Let  the  nation  rejoice  that  more  Nelsons  arise  ; 
'Twas  Collingwood  finish'd  what  the  hero  began, 
And  brave  was  the  conquest  accomplished  by  Strachan. 
Hearts  of  oak,  etc. 

The  fourth  of  November,  long  famous  in  story, 
This  year  adds  a  ray  to  our  national  glory ; 
For  like  Caesar  of  old,  our  Caesar  might  say, 
He  came,  saw,  and  conquer'd  in  the  enemy's  bay. 
Hearts  of  oak,  etc. 

The  Phoenix  transform'd,  like  a  bird  to  decoy, 
Led  the  foe  where  she  knew  they  would  soon  find  employ  ; 
Only  three  days  before,  she  had  quitted  her  nest, 
To  add  a  fresh  Didon  to  her  valorous  crest. 
Hearts  of  oak,  etc. 

Her  consort  Margarita,  though  first  in  the  chase, 
Both  at  once  pour'd  their  broadsides  full  butt  in  their  face  ; 
The  CcBsar,  the  Hero,  and  brave  Courageux, 
With  cannon  and  grape  shot,  soon  buckled  them  to. 
Hearts  of  oak,  etc. 

To  bind  the  knot  firmer,  Namur  had  her  share, 
By  ^Eolus  favor'd,  and  Revo/utionnaire ; 
Though  brave  their  resistance,  they  fought  in  vain, 
For  they  seem'd,  when  they  struck,  mere  wrecks  on  the  main. 
Hearts  of  oak,  etc. 


THE  AMETHYST  AND    THETIS    305 

Safe  moor'd  at  Plymouth,  no  more  shall  they  wander, 
And  fit  for  the  line  of  a  British  commander  ; 
Then  France,  Spain,  and  Holland  shall  threaten  in  vain, 
While  our  tars  fight  and  conquer  again  and  again. 
Hearts  of  oak,  etc. 


NEW  SONG  ON  THE  ENGAGEMENT  BETWEEN 
THE  AMETHYST  AND  THETIS,  ENGLISH  AND 
FRENCH  FRIGATES. 

(1808) 

Come,  all  you  valiant  heroes  that  sail  upon  the  sea, 
Awhile  give  your  attention  to  what  I  sing  to  thee  : 
Tis  of  a  famous  battle  that  was  fought  upon  the  main, 
Where  our  brave  British  sailors  fresh  laurels  they  did  gain, 

Between  the  Amethyst  frigate — thirty-six  guns  had  she, 
And  as  brave  a  crew,  my  boys,  as  ever  sail'd  the  sea — 
And  the  Thetis,  French  frigate  of  fifty  guns  ;  I  do  declare, 
Such  a  hard  engagement  has  not  been  known  for  many  a  year. 

At  seven  in  the  evening  the  battle  it  begun, 

And  lasted  many  hours  before  that  it  was  done. 

Great  numbers  there  was  wounded,  a  many  too  was  slain, 

While  the  blood  from  off  the  decks  did  change  the  watery  main. 

Three  hours  and  twenty  minutes  we  held  this  dreadful  fray, 

We  lasht  her  fast  unto  us,  she  could  not  get  away  ; 

Many  times  they  tried  to  board  us,  but  we  drove  them  back  so 

fast— 
Altho'  they  was  so  numerous,  we  made  them  yield  at  last. 

Then  down  she  haul'd  her  colours,  no  longer  could  she  fight  ; 
Our  British  tars  they  gave  three  cheers  all  at  this  noble  sight. 
We  took  possession  of  her  without  any  more  delay, 
And  sent  her  into  Plymouth  Sound  then,  my  boys,  straightway. 

X 


306  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

Great  store  of  artillery,  ammunition  too  likewise, 
One  thousand  barrels  of  flour  to  our  tars  became  a  prize. 
She  was  bound  out  to  Martinico,  the  truth  I  do  declare, 
But  in  the  night  we  met  her  and  stopped  her  career. 

So  now  to  conclude  and  to  finish  my  song, 

Success  to  our  noble  tars  that  to  the  seas  belong. 

Here  is  a  health  to  Captain  Seymour  and  all  his  valiant  men  ! 

Whene'er  they  meet  their  enemies  may  they  serve  them  so  again. 


A  NEW  SONG  ON  THE  SUCCESSFUL  ATTEMPT 
OF  DESTROYING  THE  FRENCH  FLEET  IN 
BASQUE  ROADS   ON  THE    nlk  APRIL    1809. 

Come,  all  you  valiant  Britons  of  every  degree, 
Attend  a  few  minutes,  and  listen  unto  me 
Concerning  our  brave  sailors  that  sailed  on  the  main, 
With  courage  so  bold  fresh  laurels  they  did  gain. 
Success  to  our  sailors  that  sail  on  the  sea, 
Who  with  Cochrane  undaunted,  zvhenever  they're  zvanted, 
They'll  fight  till  they  die,  or  gain  the  victory. 

It  was  in  Basque  Roads  the  fleet  they  did  lay. 
At  the  sight  of  our  shipping  fill'd  them  with  dismay , 
They  skulk'd  near  the  shore  like  cowardly  curs, 
And  dare  not  come  out  to  face  our  brave  British  tars 

So  success,  etc. 

In  the  month  of  April,  mind  what  I  say, 
We  resolv'd  to  try  this  fleet  to  destroy : 
We  gave  them  three  cheers  before  we  set  to, 
And  galled  them  so  sorely  we  made  them  cry  '  Morbleu  ! ' 

So  success,  etc. 

We  poured  in  our  shot  and  our  rockets  like  hail, 
Till  at  length  that  their  courage  began  for  to  fail. 
Some  were  taken  and  destroy'd,  and  some  got  on  shore, 
The  rest  run  up  the  harbour  and  would  fight  no  more. 

So  success,  etc. 


■ir. 


JEFFERYS    THE   Si  !X 

This  fleet  from  Ere  1  [arbour  s  ieo  ea 

1  ^r  brave  British  he, 

Thtf  so  great  was  their  number  thej 

So  now,  Master  Boneyparl 

Till  you  build  some  nmr. 

W  hich  so  often  has  U 

And  if  they  dare  face  them  th 


A    COPY   OF    VERSES    ON   // 

THE    SEA  MAX. 

You  captains  and  commanders  both  by  land  and 
•  I  do  not  be  hard-hearted,  refrain  from  crm 
It  is  of  JefTerys  the  seaman,  who,  thou 
Was  left  upon  a  dismal  rock,  by  his  captain  t; 

Chorus.     Think  of  j 

For  eight  days  and  nights  he  in  misery  did  remain 

W  ithout  any  food  or  nourishment  him  jn  . 

Dejected,  in  a  wretched  state,  his  fate  he  did  d 

For  some  good  Christian  to  convey  him  to  his  rial 

At  length  kind  Providence  gave  ear  unl  toarafal 

An  American  vessel  to  his  assistance  came  : 
John  Dennis's  humanity  soon  set  him  fi 
And  very  soon  released  him  from  hi 

It  really  is  surprising  he  could  so  cruel  be 

Unto  his  fellow  creature,  lost  to  humanity 

And  any  Christian  feeling  :  that  sue'' 

It  is  a  pity  such  should  have  a  command,  eithei  by  la 


But  now  he  is  arrived  unto  Old  England 
And  I  think  he  is  very  much  to  blame  to  g 
The  gentry  pity  his  fate  as  his  sufferii 
He  is  glad  to  have  the  happy  sight  of  bis  nal 


308  SONGS   AND   BALLADS 

His  mother,  in  amazement,  almost  distracted  run 

When  she  view'd  the  situation  of  her  dear  only  son. 

Quite  meagre  and  almost  starving,  with  hunger  and  fatigue, 

This  sight  it  caused  his  aged  mother's  heart  then  for  to  bleed. 


YE  PARLIAMENT   OF  ENGLAND. 

Ye  Parliament  of  England,  you  Lords  and  Commons  too, 
Consider  well  what  you're  about,  and  what  you're  going  to  do ; 
You're  now  to  fight  with  Yankees,  I'm  sure  you'll  rue  the  day 
You  roused  the  sons  of  liberty  in  North  America. 

You  first  confined  our  commerce,  and  said  our  ships  sha'n't  trade ; 
You  next  impressed  our  seamen,  and  used  them  as  your  slaves ; 
You  then  insulted  Rogers  while  ploughing  o'er  the  main, 
And  had  not  we  declared  war  you'd  have  done  it  o'er  again. 

You  thought  our  frigates  were  but  few  and  Yankees  could  not 

fight, 
Until  brave  Hull  your   Guerriere  took  and  banished  her  from 

your  sight. 
The  Wasp  then  took  your  Frolic,  we'll  nothing  say  to  that — 
The  Poidiers  being  of  the  line,  of  course  she  took  her  back. 

The  next,  your  Macedonian,  no  finer  ship  could  swim, 
Decatur  took  her  gilt-work  off,  and  then  he  sent  her  in. 
The  Java  by  a  Yankee  ship  was  sunk,  you  all  must  know ; 
The  Peacock  fine,  in  all  her  plume,  by  Lawrence  down  did  go. 

Then  next  you  sent  your  Boxer  to  box  us  all  about, 
But  we  had  an  Enterprising  brig  that  beat  your  Boxer  out ; 
We  boxed  her  up  to  Portland  and  moored  her  off  the  town, 
To  show  the  sons  of  liberty  the  Boxer  of  renown. 

The  next  upon  Lake  Erie,  where  Perry  had  some  fun, 
You  own  he  beat  your  naval  force,  and  caused  them  for  to  run  ; 
This  was  to  you  a  sore  defeat,  the  like  ne'er  known  before — 
Your    British   squadron   beat   complete — some  took,   some   run 
ashore. 


CONSTITUTION  AND   GUERRIERE   309 

There's  Rogers,  in  the  President,  will  barn,  sink  and  destroy ; 
The  Congress,  on  the  Brazil  coast,  your  commerce  will  annoy  ; 
The  Essex,  in  the  South  Seas,  will  put  out  all  your  lights, 
The  flag  she  waves  at  her  mast-head — '  Free  Trade  and  Sailors' 
Rights.' 

Lament,  ye  sons  of  Britain,  far  distant  is  the  day 
When  vou'll  regain  by  British  force  what  you've  lost  in  America  ; 
Go  tell  your  King  and  Parliament,  by  all  the  world  'tis  known 
That  British  force  by  sea  and  land  by  Yankees  is  o'erthrown. 

Use  every  endeavour,  and  strive  to  make  a  peace, 
For  Yankee  ships  are  building  fast,  their  navy  to  increase  ; 
They  will  enforce  their  commerce,  the  laws  by  heaven  are  made 
That  Yankee  ships  in  time  of  peace  to  any  port  may  trade. 


THE   CONSTITUTION  AND   GUERRIERE. 

Air — The  landlady  of  France. 

It  oft-times  has  been  told 
That  the  British  seamen  bold 
Could  flog  the  tars  of  France 

So  neat  and  handy,  O  ! 
But  they  never  met  their  match 
Till  the  Yankees  did  them  catch, — 
Oh  !  the  Yankee  boy  for  fighting 

Is  the  dandy,  O  ! 

The  Guerriere,  a  frigate  bold, 
On  the  foaming  ocean  roll'd, 
Commanded  by  proud  1  >a<  res, 

All  the  grandee,  O  ! 
With  as  choice  a  British  crew 
As  a  rammer  ever  drew,— 
They  could  flog  the  French  men,  two  to  one 

So  handy,  O  ! 

When  this  frigate  bore  in  vii 
Says  proud  Dacres  to  his  crew  : 
1  Come  !  clear  the  ship  for  action 
And  be  handy,  O  ! 


310  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

To  the  weather-gage,  boys,  get  her  ! ' — 
And  to  make  his  men  fight  better 
Gave  them  gunpowder  to  drink 
Mixed  with  brandy,  O  ! 

Then  Dacres  loudly  cries, 

'  Make  this  Yankee  ship  your  prize, — 

You  can  in  thirty  minutes, 

i\eat  and  handy,  O  ! 
Twenty-five's  enough,  I'm  sure ; 
And  if  you  do  it  in  a  score 
I'll  treat  you  to  a  double  share 

Of  brandy,  O  ! ' 

The  British  shot  flew  hot, 
Which  the  Yankee  answered  not 
Till  they  got  within  the  distance 

They  call  handy,  O  ! 
Now  says  Hull  unto  his  crew  : 
'  Boys,  let's  see  what  we  can  do  ! — 
If  we  take  this  boasting  Brit<  n 

We're  the  dandy,  O  ! ' 

The  first  broadside  we  poured, 
Came  her  mainmast  by  the  board, 
Which  made  this  lofty  frigate 

Look  abandoned,  O  ! 
The  Dacres  shook  his  head, 
And  to  his  officers  he  said, 
'  Lord — I  didn't  think  these  Yankees 

Were  so  handy,  C  ! ' 

Our  second  told  so  well 
That  their  fore  and  mizen  fell, 
Which  doused  the  royal  ensign 

Neat  and  handy,  O  ! 
'  By  George  ! '  says  he,  '  we're  done  !  '— 
And  then  fired  a  lee  gun, 
While  the  Yankees  struck  up 

'  Yankee  doodle  dandy,  O  ! ' 

Then  Dacres  came  on  board 
To  deliver  up  his  sword, 
Loth  was  he  to  part  with  it, 
'Twas  so  handy,  O  ! 


t 


SHANNON  AND   CHESAPEAKE   311 

'Oh  !  keep  your  sword,'  says  Hull, 

t  it  only  makes  you  dull ; 
Cheer  up, — and  take  a  little  drink 
Of  brandy,  O  ! ' 

Come  !  fill  your  glasses  full  ! 

And  we'll  drink  'To  Captain  Mull, 

And  so  merrily  we'll  push  about 

The  brandy,  O  ! 
John  Bull  may  toast  his  fill  ! 
But  let  the  world  say  what  it  will, 
The  Yankee  boy  for  fighting 

Is  the  dandy.  ( )  ! 


SHANNON  AND    CHESAPEAKE. 

The  Chesapeake  so  bold, 

Out  of  Boston,  we've  been  told, 

Came  to  take  the  British  frigate 

Neat  and  handy,  O  ! 
All  the  people  of  the  port 
They  came  out  to  see  the  sport, 
And  the  bands  were  playing 

'  Yankee  doodle  dandy,  O  ! ' 

The  British  frigate's  nan. 
Which  for  the  purpose  came 
Of  cooling  Yankee  courage 

Neat  and  handy,  O  ! 
Was  the  Shannon — Captain  Broke. 
All  her  crew  were  hearts  of  oak, 
And  at  hunting  they're  allowed  to  be 

The1  dandy,  O  ! 

Now  before  the  fight  begun, 
The  Yankees  with  much  fun, 
Said  they'd  take  the  British  frigate 

Neat  and  handy,  <  >  ! 
And  after  that  they'd  dine, 
Treat  their  sweethearts  all  with  wine, 
And  the  band  should  play  up 

'  Yankee  doodle  dandy,  O  ! ' 


3i2  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

We  no  sooner  had  begun 

Than  from  their  guns  they  run, 

Though  before  they  thought  they  worked  'em 

Neat  and  handy,  O  ! 
Brave  Broke  he  waved  his  sword, 
Crying,  '  Now,  my  lads,  we'll  board, 
And  we'll  stop  their  playing 

"Yankee  doodle  dandy,  O  !  "  ' 

^r    ..o  sooner  heard  the  word 
Than  we  all  jumped  aboard 
And  tore  down  the  colours 

Neat  and  handy,  O  ! 
Notwithstanding  all  their  brag 
O'er  the  glorious  British  flag, 
At  the  Yankee  mizen-peak 

It  looked  the  dandy,  O  ! 

Here's  a  health  to  Captain  Broke, 
And  all  the  hearts  of  oak, 
That  took  the  Yankee  frigate 

Neat  and  handy,  O  ! 
And  may  we  always  prove 
That  in  fighting  and  in  love, 
The  true  British  sailor 

Is  the  dandy,  O  ! 


BATTLE  OF  THE  SHANNON  AND  CHESAPEAKE. 

On  board  the  Shannon  frigate  in  the  merry  month  of  May, 
To  watch  the  bold  Americans  off  Boston  lights  we  lay. 
The  Chesapeake  lay  in  harbour,  a  frigate  stout  and  fine, 
Four  hundred  and  forty  men  she  had,  her  guns  were  forty-nine. 

'Twas  Captain  Broke  commanded  us,  a  challenge  he  did  write 
To  the  captain  of  the  Chesapeake  to  bring  her  out  to  fight. 
Our  captain  says,  '  Brave  Lawrence,  'tis  not  from  enmity, 
But  'tis  to  prove  to  all  the  world  that  we  rule  on  the  sea. 

'  Don't  think,  my  noble  captain,  because  you  have  had  success 

That  British  tars  are  humbled,  not  even  in  distress. 

No  !  we  will  fight  like  heroes  our  glory  to  maintain, 

In  defiance  of  superior  size  and  the  number  of  your  men.' 


THE  ENDYMIOWS   TRIUMPH     313 

The  challenge  was  accepted,  the  Americans  came  down, 
A  finer  frigate  ne'er  belonged  unto  the  British  crown. 
They  brought  her  into  action  on  the  true  British  plan. 
Nor  fired  a  shot  till  within  hail  — then  they  the  fight  began. 

Broadside  for  broadside  then  did  yield  a  most  trenundo'>  roar, 
Like  thunder  it  resounded,  re-echoed  from  each  shi 
This  dreadful  firing  lasted  near  a  quarter  of  an  hour  ; 
Then  the  enemy's  ship  drove  right  aboard,  their  yards  were  locked 
in  ours. 

Our  captain  went  to  their  ship's  side  to  see  how  she  did  lie, 
When  he  beheld  the  enemy's  men  who  from  their  guns  did  fly. 
'  All  hands  for  boarding  '  '  now  he  cry'd  ;  '  the  victory  is  sure. 
Come  bear  a  hand,  my  gallant  boys,  our  prize  we'll  soon  secure.' 

Like   lions  then  we  rush'd  on  board,  we  fought  them  hand  to 

hand, 
And  tho'  they  overnumbered  us  they  could  not  us  withstand. 
They  fought  in  desperation,  disorder,  and  dismay, 
And  in  about  three  minutes'  time  were  forced  to  give  way. 

Their  captain  and  lieutenant  with  seventy  of  the  crew 
Were  killed  in  this  sharp  action,  and  an  hundred  wounded  too. 
The  ship  was  taken  to  Halifax  and  the  captain  buried  there, 
And  the  remainder  of  his  crew  as  his  chief  mourners  were. 

Have  courage  then,  all  British  tars,  and  never  be  dismay'd, 
But  put  the  can  of  grog  about  and  drink  success  to  trade, 
Likewise  to  gallant  Captain  Broke  and  all  his  valiant  crew, 
Who  beat  the  bold  Americans  and  brought  their  courage  to. 


A    NEW   SONG,    CALLED     THE    ENDYMIONS 

TRIUMPH. 

Come,  all  you  valiant  British  tars,  attend  unto  my  theme. 
In  eighteen  hundred  and  fifteen  this  fact  I  will  proclaim  : 
As  we  were  cruising  off  New  York,  the  night  it  being  clear. 
Bold  Mars  to  us  a  message  sent  an  enemy  was  near. 


3  H  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

On  January  fifteen,  just  by  the  dawn  of  day, 

We  spied  a  Yankee  frigate  that  just  had  put  to  sea 

WUh  he"  we    ^  5°™  °f  f°Ur  °'cIock>  1<4  torn  began  to  tell, 

well  "  Came  UP'  braVe  bo>'s'  our  ship&  could  sail  so 

Their  Commodore  Decatur  all  hands  on  deck  did  call 
Saying,  'Be  of  good  courage,  their  vessel's  very  small  •' 
Bes,des  we  have  two  men  to  one-so,  boys,  be  not  asleep 
For  ,n  less  than  ten  minutes  we'll  sink  her  in  the  deep  ' 

But  soon  he  found  his  great  mistake— at  five  o'clock  it  mVht 

But  soon  the  bold  Endymion  pull'd  down  their  Yanked  pride. 

Two  hours  and  forty  minutes,  with  courage  void  of  fear 

When  S taufddT  &l  mai",tain  and  SweP'  ^r  decS'so  dear. 

«n^S."S  obse™'ion.  twelve  months  that  day  were  snent 
aneethts  proud  Yankee  commodore  a  challenge  to  ustent 
We  joyfully  accepted  it,  British  honour  to  fdelfend 

commend"™0^   ""    ^    *«*    »"    >et    the    same 


THE   END  YM I  OX'S    TRIUMPH     3>5 

This  action  we'll  record  in  the  annals  of  British  fame, 

Her  sixty-three  to  forty-eight  it  was  unequal  game. 

Since  we    left    Plymouth    Harbour    in    eighteen    hundred    and 

thirteen, 
All  along  the  Yankee  coast  we  have  thirty  prizes  ta  en. 

Bold  Caotain  Hope  commanded  us,  his  praises  we'll  proclaim, 
To  him  the  greatest  honour's  due.  he  merits  British  lame. 
?Be  stent  men  ! '  was  all  his  cry.     '  Bring  all  your  guns  to  hear 
And  do  not  tfre  one  shot  in  vain  ;  both  round  and  grape  prepare. 

It  would  take  the  quill  of  Homer  or  Virgil  to  indite 
The  valour  of  our  officers  display'd  upon  that  night : 
Our  undaunted  first  lieutenant,  bold  Morgan  ol  renown, 
Mr.  Garson,  Mr.  Ormon,  bold  Fanshaw  and  \  eaman. 

But  on  the  seventeenth,  brave  boys,  at  twelve  o'clock  at  night 
We  lost  our  fore  and  main  mast,  to  us  a  doldul  sight  . 
To    ee  us  in  this  dreadful  gale  an  adamant  heart  would  weep, 
5ur  quarter-deck  and  forecastle  guns  we  plunged  »  the  deep. 

But  soon  we  rigged  our  jurymast  when  that  the  gale  was  o'er, 
The  weather  tfame  fine  and  clear,  the  billows  ceas'd  to  roa.  ; 
in?  soon  another  gale  arose,  which  lasted  three  whole  da>  s, 
fn  the  SuTph  Strelrn  we  were  toss'd  about,  tremendous  were  the 


seas. 


Our  orize  she  was  dismasted  and  much  injury  sustain  d  ; 
?K  God  she's  now  arrived  safe,  the  anchorage  she  ,  gam  d. 
Thus  kmd  Heaven  protected  us,  all  dangers  we  sumvd, 
For  now  in  sweet  Bermuda  our  sh.p  and  she's  arm  d. 

Now  let  Commodore  Decatur  and  all  his  Yankee  crew 
WriWhome  to  cowardly  Madison  what  Bntth  «■ «do. 
Whilst  our  trophies  well  bnng  home  unto  the  Bntosh  shore. 
And  cans  of  grog  well  pledge,  my  boys,  now  tempests  cease 
roar. 

Qn  fill  tn  me  a  flowine  bowl  and  let  the  toast  go  round: 
iXosper  fongTonfd  Captain  Hope,  with  laur,  U  he  .  crown  d  ; 
Success  to  our  bold  officers  and  all  our  valiant  crew, 
And  may  all  British  seamen  their  victories  pursue. 


3i6  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 


THE  BRITISH  TARS. 

Come  all  you  thoughtless  young  men,  a  warning  take  by  me, 
And  never  leave  your  happy  homes  to  sail  the  raging  sea, 
For  I  have  ploughed  the  raging  main  this  twenty  years  or  more, 
But  now  I'm  turned  adrift  to  starve  upon  my  native  shore. 

When  war  at  first  assail'd  us  I  quickly  left  my  trade, 
Our  country  was  in  danger,  I  flew  to  lend  my  aid. 
And  in  my  country's  service,  long,  long  fatigues  I  bore, 
But  now  I'm  turned  adrift  to  starve  upon  my  native  shore. 

By  storms  and  raging  tempest  shipwreck'd  three  times  I've  been, 
And  many  a  bloody  battle  upon  the  seas  I've  seen ; 
I've  seen  the  cannon's  glaring  flash,  I've  heard  its  murderous  roar, 
Tho'  now  I'm  turned  adrift  to  starve  upon  my  native  shore. 

The  British  seaman's  valour  to  all  the  world  is  known, 
We  conquer  still  where'er  we  go,  the  action  is  our  own. 
The  meteor  flag  of  England  triumphantly  we  bore  ; 
But  now  we  are  turned  adrift  to  starve  upon  our  native  shore. 

Should  hostile  fleets  e'er  venture  upon  the  raging  main, 
True  hearts  of  oak  we  British  Tars  we'll  push  to  sea  again  ; 
And  bravely  bring  their  ships  to  port  as  we  have  done  before. 
So  help  us  now  while  we're  in  want  upon  our  native  shore. 

Come  pity,  ye  gentle  strangers,  a  luckless  British  Tar, 
In  your  defence  he  yet  may  hurl  the  thunderbolts  of  war. 
Come  lend  some  kind  assistance,  and  heaven  will  bless  your  store, 
For  now  I'm  turned  adrift  to  starve  upon  my  native  shore. 


THE    FANCY  FRIGATE. 

It  is  of  a  fine  Frigate,  dare  not  mention  her  name  ; 
And  in  the  West  Indies  she  bore  great  fame, 
For  cruel  hard  usage  in  every  degree, 
Like  slaves  in  a  galley  we  plough  the  salt  sea. 


THE   FANCY  FRIGATE  w; 

At  four  in  the  morning  the  game  is  begun, 
To  the  cock-pit  the  waisters  for  buckets  must  run  ; 
For  tore  and  main  topmen  so  loud  they  do  bawl, 
For  sand  and  for  stones  both  large  and  small. 

( '■  Master  Make-clever,  you  know  very  well, 
i  le  comes  upon  deck  and  cuts  a  great  swell  ; 

■  bear  a  hand  here,  boys,'  and  '  bear  a  hand  there,' 
And  in  the  lee  gangway  he  takes  a  broad  sheer. 

Half  a  dozen  he  starts,  and  so  he  goes  on  ; 
You're  sure  of  a  hiding,  boys,  every  one  ; 
For  soldier  or  sailor  he  cares  not  a  damn, 
But  he'll  hide  you  as  long  as  you're  able  to  stand. 

Our  decks  being  wash'd  and  our  sheets  being  home, 
Stand  by  your  hammocks,  boys,  every  one  ; 
Seven  turns  with  your  lashings  so  equal  must  show, 
And  all  of  a  size,  boys,  and  through  the  hoop  go. 

Our  hammocks  being  stowed,  and  our  breakfast  done, 
We're  ranked  in  divisions  with  our  white  hats  all  on  ; 
With  our  speeguls  and  lashings  so  black  they  must  shine, 
With  our  white  frocks  and  trousers  we  must  all  be  a  line. 

Our  division  officer  then  takes  his  round, 

Not  a  hole  nor  a  spot  on  your  clothes  must  be  found  ; 

For  an  hour  or  more  in  this  form  we  must  be, 

Our  ropes  they  are  flemished  either  in  harbour  or  at  sea. 

• 

Our  divisions  being  over,  the  next  thing  comes  on, 
Jack  o'  Clubs  he  is  calling  for  swabs  in  his  song  : 
Three  or  four  dry  swabs  each  cook  they  must  find, 
And  the  bright  iron  hoops  on  our  mess-kids  must  shine. 

There  is  pulling  and  hauling  all  the  four  hours  round, 
On  deck  or  below  there's  no  peace  to  be  found ; 
Either  paint  room,  or  store  room,  you're  sure  for  to  clear, 
To  find  out  what  blacking  or  paint  is  to  spare. 

Pass  the  word  for  the  painters,  fore  and  aft  is  the  cry, 
Neither  booms  nor  gangway  I  would  have  you  draw  ni;^h, 
Nor  yet  in  the  ports  I  would  have  you  be  found, 
For  six  dozen  or  more  to  your  name  will  go  round. 


318  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Our  boarding  pikes  and  cutlasses  are  bright  as  the  sun, 
Our  shot  racks  are  copper,  boys,  every  one  ; 
Our  pumelins  and  hand  spikes  and  belaying  pins  also, 
With  our  bright  iron  staunchions  we  cut  a  fine  show. 

Neither  combings  or  hatchway  I'd  have  you  go  near, 
From  the  bell  or  cook's  funnel  I'd  have  you  keep  clear ; 
Nor  yet  in  the  galley  I'd  have  you  to  go, 
For  a  black  ..minder  squall  will  take  you  in  tow. 

Now,  my  brave  boys,  comes  the  best  of  the  fun, 
All  hands  to  make  sail,  going  large  is  the  song ; 
From  under  two  reefs  in  our  topsails  we  lie, 
Like  a  cloud  in  the  air  in  an  instant  must  fly. 

There's  topsails,  top-gallant  sails,  staysails  also, 
There's  stunsails  on  both  sides  aloft  and  below, 
There's  royals,  and  skysails,  stargazers  so  high, 
By  the  sound  of  one  pipe  everything  it  must  fly. 

Now,  my  brave  boys,  comes  the  best  of  the  fun, 
It's  hands  about  ship  and  reef  topsails  in  one  ; 
Our  hands  go  aloft  when  the  helm  it  goes  down, 
Lower  away  topsails  when  the  mainyard  goes  round. 

Trice  up  and  lie  out,  and  take  two  reefs  in  one, 
In  a  moment  of  time  all  this  work  must  be  done ; 
Man  your  head  braces,  your  haulyards,  and  all, 
And  hoist  away  topsails  when  it's  let  go  and  haul. 

As  for  the  use  of  tobacco,  all  thoughts  leave  behind  ; 
If  you  spit  upon  deck  then  your  death  warrant's  signed 
If  you  spit  overboard  either  gangway  or  stern, 
You  are  sure  of  six  dozen  by  the  way  of  no  harm. 

But  worse  than  all  this,  I  have  known  them  to  stop 
A  week's  wine  or  grog  if  you  spill  but  one  drop  ; 
Either  forward  or  aft  I  would  have  you  keep  clear, 
Or  the  bell,  or  cook's  funnel,  will  fall  to  your  share. 

Come,  all  brother  seamen,  wherever  you  be, 
From  all  fancy  frigates  I'd  have  you  keep  clear  ; 
Take  compassion  all  on  us,  and  never  forget, 
Those  poor  pipe-clay  rangers  so  called  of  late. 


THE   SAUCY  SCYLLA  3»9 


THE  SAUCY  SCYLLA. 

At  four  in  the  morning  the  work  it  came  on, 
Fortnd  and  for  holy  stone,  loud  w^ong  , 
v«r  fore  and  main  topmen  loud  was  the  call, 
For  sand  and  for  holy  stones  both  great  and  small. 

The  next  thing  to  divisions  your  hammocks  you  bring, 

arfi  ass  sssas  -- -  court- 

T„o  bdls  in  the  evening-'.was  the ; dn.mjj»r  once™- 
Wi?h  the  rest  of  good  drilling  and  much  exerc.se. 
After  quarters  -J"""**^  "nc.'cdusTuTsore  ; 
Rise  up,  and  lay  out  your  reef  points  to  Be. 

In  ,ess  than  two  mmu.es  our  top  sa.ls  must  be  reeFd, 
Ah  sail  set  above  then ,  »  snug  and  com  pie*  ■ 
&  SSK^^WK^  one  4uart. 


320  SOJVGS  AND   BALLADS 

We  ranged  them  Bahamas  by  night  and  by  day, 
Every  creek  and  every  island  like  a  lion  for  his  prey ; 
In  search  of  those  slave  ships  it  was  our  intent, 
'Till  at  last  came  to  Nassaw,  where  our  relief  was  sent. 

Very  soon  for  Port  Royal  we  then  did  make  sail, 

Favoured  by  Neptune  and  a  sweet,  pleasant  gale  ; 

When  we  arrived  there,  what  grieved  us  full  sore, 

We  were  orde^.  on  the  Spanish  main  for  two  months  or  more. 

But  now  we  are  arrived  in  England  once  more, 
How  our  spirits  did  rise,  glad  to  see  our  own  shore  ; 
Our  friends  and  relations  they  came  in  our  sight, 
For  fear  of  them  entering,  their  look-out  was  bright. 

But  now  my  song  is  ended,  I  have  no  more  to  say, 
But  our  saucy  little  Scylla  she  carried  the  sway ; 
For  in  reefing  and  furling  she  was  always  the  best, 
Throughout  the  West  Indies,  for  we  had  scarce  any  rest. 


THE    VANGUARD. 

Come,  all  you  seamen,  stout  and  bold,  and  listen  to  my  song, 
It's  worth  your  whole  attention,  I'll  not  detain  you  long. 

Chorus. 

Then  let  us  sing  the  Vanguard's  praise,  proclaim  her  valiant 

name, 
Cruel  usage  I  have  met  with  since  I  sail'd  in  tlie  same. 

Concerning  of  the  Vanguard,  a  ship  of  noble  fame, 

With  her  r commander,  Mickey  Walker  call'd  by  name. 

At  four  o'clock  you  must  turn  out,  the  decks  to  holystone  ; 
One  and  all  you  must  go  down  upon  your  marrow  bones. 

Then  Mr.  Croycraft  comes  on  deck,  and  he'll  begin  to  curse  and 

swear ; 
Both  watches  of  gunners  send  up  on  deck  to  see  your  lashings 

are  all  square. 


THE    VANGUARD  321 

At  eight  o'clock  it's  up  top-gallant  yards,  to  the  mast-head  you 

must  run, 
And  if  you  are  not  the  first  ship,  your  name  is  taken  down. 

Then  down  from  the  mast-head  to  the  gangway  you  must  repair, 
And  there  is  the  gratings  rigged  ready  to  punish  you  there. 

And  when  on  shore  by  leave  you  go,  if  beyond  your  time  you 

stay. 
Then  you  are  put  on  the  stage  party  for  the  space  of  sixty  days. 

Then   next  you're  put   in  chokey,  boys,  you  get   both  thin  and 

white  ; 
And  if  you  break  your  liberty,  scrub  copper  from  morning  till  night. 

But  if  you  are  in  the  black  list,  as  true  as  I'm  a  sinner, 
Then   you    must  polish   brass-work  while   the  crew  are  at  their 
dinner. 

But  if  a  fighting  you  do  go,  you'll  never  get  any  rest ; 

They  will  drive  you  off  the  lower  deck,  in  the  galley  for  to  mess. 

And  when  you  are  in  the  galley  mess,  your  heart  is  fill'd  with 

woe; 
Your  monthly  money  it  is  stopt,  on  shore  you  must  not  go. 

Now,  you  seamen  of  the  Vanguard,  you  had  better  not  get  drunk  ; 
You  will  be  laid  upon  your. back,  and  they'll  use  the  stomarh 
pump. 

If  your  hammock  it  is  dirty,  and  you  know  no  reason  why, 
Then  you  must  scrub  it  in  the  head,  carry  it  on  a  boat-hook  to 
dry. 

There's  a  man  on  our  lower  deck,  he  is  called  Jondy  Cross  ; 
If  I  had  my  will  of  him,  I'd  overboard  him  toss. 

But  when  on  shore  the  bully  comes,  if  with  him  you  should  fall  in, 

The  w e  that  gives  to  him  a  drubbing  shall  have  a  gown 

a  gallon  of  gin. 

So  now  to  conclude,  and  finish  my  son. 

I  am  a  saucy  mizen-top  man,  to  the  Vanguard  does  belong. 

But  if  to  sea  I  go  again,  I'd  sooner  swing  in  a  hal" 
Before  I'd  sail  in  any  ship  commanded  by  Mickey  Walker. 

Y 


322  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 


THE  PORT  ADMIRAL. 

'Twas  at  the  landing  place  that's  just  below  Mount  Wyse, 
Poll  leaned  against  the  sentry's  box,  a  tear  in  both  her  eyes  : 
Her  apron  twisted  round  her  arms,  all  for  to  keep  them  warm, 
Being  a  windy  Civ '  -mas  Day,  and  also  a  snow-storm. 
And  Bet  and  Sue 
Both  stood  there  too, 

A-shivering  by  her  side  ; 
They  both  were  dumb, 
And  both  look'd  glum 

As  they  watched  the  ebbing  tide. 
Poll  put  her  arms  a-kimbo  : 

At  the  admiral's  house  look'd  she  ; 
To  thoughts  before  in  limbo, 
She  now  a  vent  gave  free. 
You  have  sent  the  ship  in  a  gale  to  work, 

On  a  lee-shore  to  be  jammed ; 
I'll  give  you  a  piece  of  my  mind,  old  Turk  : 
Port  Admiral,  you  be  damned. 

Chorus. 

We'll  give  you  a  piece  of  our  mind,  old  Turk; 
Port  Admiral,  you  be  damned. 

Whoever  heard  in  the  sarvice  of  a  frigate  made  to  sail 

On  Christmas  Day,  it  blowing  hard,  with  sleet,  and  snow,  and 

hail? 
I  wish  I  had  the  fishing  of  your  back  that  is  so  bent, 
I'd  use  the  galley  poker  hot,  unto  your  heart's  content. 
Here  Bet  and  Sue 
Are  with  me  too, 

A-shivering  by  my  side  ; 
They  both  are  dumb, 
And  both  look  glum, 

And  watch  the  ebbing  tide. 
Poll  put  her  arms  a-kimbo  : 

At  the  admiral's  house  looked  she  ; 
To  thoughts  that  were  in  limbo, 
She  now  a  vent  gave  free. 
You've  got  a  roaring  fire,  I'll  bet : 

In  it  your  toes  are  jammed  ; 
Let's  give  him  a  piece  of  our  mind,  my  Bet : 
Port  Admiral,  you  be  damned  ! 


THE  PORT  ADMIRAL  323 


Chorus. 

Let's  give  him  a  piece  of  eur  mind,  my  Bet 
Port  Admiral,  you  be  damned. 


I  had  the  flour,  and  plums  all  picked,  and  suet  all  chopped  fun-, 
To  mix  into  a  pudding  rich,  for  all  the  mess  to  dine  : 
I  pawn'd  my  ear-rings  for  the  beef,  it  weighed  at  least  a  stone  : 
Now  my  fancy  man  is  sent  to  sea,  and  1  am  left  alone. 
Here's  Bet  and  Sue 
Who  stand  here  too, 

A-shivering  by  my  side  ; 
They  both  are  dumb, 
They  both  look  glum, 

And  watch  the  ebbing  ti< 
Poll  put  her  arms  a-kimbo  : 
At  the  admiral's  house  look'd  she  ; 
To  thoughts  that  were  in  limbo, 
She  now  a  vent  gave  free  : 
You've  got  a  turkey,  I'll  be  bound, 

With  which  you  will  be  crammed  ; 
I'll  give  you  a  bit  of  my  mind,  old  hound  : 
Port  Admiral,  you  be  damned. 

Chorus. 

We' II  give  you  a  bit  of  our  mind,  old  hound  : 
Port  Admiral,  you  be  damned. 


I'm  sure  that  in  this  weather  they  cannot  cook  their  meat : 
To  eat  it  raw  on  Christmas  Day  will  be  a  pleasant  treat ; 
But  let  us  all  go  home,  girls  :  it's  no  use  waiting  here  : 
We'll  hope  that  Christmas  Day  to  come  they'll  have  a  better  cheer. 
So  Bet  and  Sue, 
Don't  stand  here  too, 

A-shivering  by  my  side  ; 
Don't  keep  so  dumb, 
Don't  look  so  glum, 

Nor  watch  the  ebbing  tide. 
Poll  put  her  arms  a-kimbo  : 

At  the  admiral's  house  look'd  she ; 
To  thoughts  that  were  in  limbo, 
She  now  a  vent  gave  free. 

Y   2 


324  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

So  while  they  cut  their  raw  salt  junks, 

With  dainties  you'll  be  cramm'd  ; 
Here's  once  for  all  my  mind,  old  hunks  : 

Port  Admiral,  you  be  damned. 

Chorus. 

So  once  for  all  our  mind,  old  hunks  : 
x  ort  Admiral,  you  be  damned. 


OH  I  CRUEL. 

Oh  !  cruel  were  my  parents  to  tear  my  love  from  me, 
And  cruel  were  the  press-gang  that  took  him  off  to  sea, 
And  cruel  was  the  little  boat  that  row'd  him  from  the  strand, 
And  cruel  was  the  great  big  ship  that  sailed  from  the  land. 

Sing  too  rol  lo,  etc. 

Oh  !  cruel  was  the  water  that  bore  her  love  from  Mary, 
And  cruel  was  the  fair  wind  that  would  not  blow  contrary  ; 
And  cruel  was  the  captain,  the  boatswain  and  the  men, 
Who  didn't  care  a  farthing  if  we  ever  met  again. 

Oh  !  cruel  was  the  splinter  to  break  my  deary's  leg, 

Now  he's  obliged  to  fiddle,  and  I'm  obliged  to  beg  : 

A  vagabonding  vagrant,  and  a  rantipoling  wife, 

We  fiddle,  limp,  and  scrape  it,  thro'  the  ups  and  downs  of  life. 

Oh  !  cruel  was  th'  engagement  in  which  my  true  love  fought, 
And  cruel  was  the  cannon-ball  that  knock'd  his  right  eye  out ; 
He  us'd  to  leer  and  ogle  me  with  peepers  full  of  fun, 
But  now  he  looks  askew  at  me,  because  he  has  but  one. 

My  love  he  plays  the  fiddle,  and  wanders  up  and  down, 
And  1  sing  at  his  elbow  thro'  all  the  streets  in  town. 
We  spend  our  days  in  harmony,  and  very  seldom  fight, 
Except  when  he's  his  grog  aboard,  and  I  get  queer  at  night. 

Then  ladies  all  take  warning  by  my  true  love  and  me, 
Tho'  cruel  fate  should  cross  you,  remember  constancy ; 
Like  me  you'll  be  rewarded,  and  have  your  heart's  delight, 
With  fiddling  in  the  morning,  and  a  drop  of  gin  at  night. 


THE  ANSWER    TO    OH!   CRUEL  325 


THE  ANSWER    TO   OH!  CRUEL. 

Oh  '  cruel  was  thy  parents  that  envied  our  love. 

And  cruel  was  the'  press-gang  that  gave  me  sucha  shove, 

That  took  me  head  and  heels  and  put  me  in  a  sack, 

And  to  the  water  side  one  took  me  on  his  back. 

Anu  Singing  too  rol  loo  rol,  eh . 

I  thought  1  was  to  die,  so  I  began  to  pray, 

•  Why  hang  your  lazy  hide,'  one  unto  me  did  say 

<  Ifvou  do^Vt  hold  your  clack  I'll  throw  you  overboard. 

I  thought  to  my  dear  Poll  I  shall  never  be  restor  d. 

They  soon  a  sailor  made  me  with  their  cuffs  and  whip, 
1  never  lik'd  their  notions,  I  so  often  had  to  stnp^ 
The  enemy  appearU     Oh  !  dreadful  was  the  sight, 
The  tarry  lads  so  cheerfully  preparing  for  the  fight. 

The  captain  loudly  bawling  every  man  to  his  gun, 
I  tried  to  skulk  away,  thinking  I  had  none  ; 

T  tumbled  on  my  back  and  vented  forth  a  sigh, 

When  a  buTet^n  a  twinkling  knock'd  out  my  poor  right  eye. 

So  from  the  cruel  wars  I  am  safe  at  home  again, 
And  by  my  fiddling  a  Uvelyhood  obtain. 
And  now  you  have  proved  true  how  happy  shal we 
We'll  pass  the  days  and  nights  in  love  and  harmony. 

Tho'  cruel  was  my  fortune  I  haven't  lost  the  way 
Of  netting  grog  at  night  by  fiddling  all  the  dav  , 
And  tho'gIgamdepriv'd  by  a  cruel  cannon-baU 
She'd  rather  have  me  as  I  am  then  ne'er  a  man  at  all 


326  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 


THE  FEMALE  LIEUTENANT ;  OR,   FAITHLESS 
LOVER  REWARDED. 

William  was  a  youthful  lover, 
William  lov'd  a  lady  fair  ; 
Bells  did  ring  and  birds  did  sing, 
As  to  the  church  they  aiu  repair. 

Then  came  twenty  brisk  young  sailors, 
Drest  in  grand  and  rich  array  ; 
Instead  of  William  being  married, 
Prest  he  was  and  sent  away. 

Soon  his  true  love  follow'd  after, 
By  the  name  of  William  Carr  ; 
Her  soft  hands  and  milk-white  fingers, 
All  were  smear'd  with  pitch  and  tar. 

Now  behold  the  first  engagement. 
Bold  she  fought  among  the  rest ; 
Her  jacket  open,  void  of  danger, 
All  expos'd  her  snow-white  breast. 

When  the  captain  came  to  hear  it, 
He  said,  '  What  wind  has  brought  you  here  ?  ' 
'  Kind  sir,  I  came  to  find  my  true  love, 
Him  you  prest  I  love  so  dear.' 

'  If  that  you  came  to  find  your  true  love, 
Tell  to  me  his  name,  I  pray  ? ' 
'  Brave  sir,  they  call  him  William  Taylor, 
Him  you  prest  and  forc'd  away.' 

'  If  William  Taylor  is  your  true  love 
He  is  both  cruel  and  severe, 
For  rise  up  early  in  the  morning ' 
You  shall  see  him  and  his  lady  fair. 

'  For  he  some  days  ago  was  wedded 
And  lives  upon  the  Isle  of  Man, 
And  with  his  beauteous  bride  has  bedded 
A  truth  that  none  deny  it  can.' 


BILLY    TAYLOR  327 

Then  she  rose  early  in  the  morning, 
Early  by  the  break  of  day, 
There  she  saw  sweet  William  Taylor 
Walking  with  his  lady  gay. 

She  call'd  quickly  for  a  pistol, 
It  was  brought  at  her  command ; 
Strait  she  shot  sweet  William  Taylor, 
With  the  same  soon  out  of  hand. 

When  the  captain  saw  the  wonder 
Which  the  maiden  fair  had  done, 
He  instantly  made  her  lieutenant 
Of  the  gallant  Thunder  Bomb. 


BILLY  TAYLOR. 

A   Burlesque  Ballad. 

Sung  by  Mr.  Emery,  at  the  Theatre  Royal,  Covent  Garden. 

Billy  Taylor  was  a  gay  young  fellow, 

Full  of  mirth,  and  full  of  glee  ; 
And  his  heart  he  did  diskiver 

To  a  lady  fair  and  free. 

Fol  lol,  etc. 

Four-and-twenty  stout  young  fellows, 

Clad  they  were  in  blue  array, 
( lame  and  press'd  young  Billy  Taylor, 

And  forthwith  sent  him  to  sea. 

Fbl  lol,  etc. 

Soon  his  true  love  follow'd  artcr, 

Under  the  name  of  Richard  Can  ; 
And  her  lily  white  hands  she  daub'd  all  over 

With  the  nasty  pitch  and  tar. 

Fol  lol,  etc. 

When  they  came  to  the  first  engagement, 

Bold  she  fit  amongst  the  rest, 
Until  a  cannon-ball  cut  her  jacket  open, 

And  diskivered  her  lily  white  breast. 

Fol  lol,  etc. 


328  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

When  the  captain  com'd  for  to  hear  on't, 
Says  he  '  Vat  vind  has  blown  you  here  ?  ' 

Says  she  '  I  come  to  seek  for  my  true  love, 
Whom  you  press'd,  and  I  love  so  dear.' 

Fol  lol,  etc. 

1  If  you  come  to  seek  for  your  true  love, 

Tell  unto  me  his  name,  I  pray  ?  ' 
1  His  name,  kind  sir,  is  Billy  Taylor, 

Whom  you  press'd,  and  sent  to  sea.' 

Fol  lol,  etc. 

'  If  his  name  is  Billy  Taylor, 

He's  both  cruel  and  severe  ; 
For  rise  up  early  in  the  morning, 

And  you'll  see  him  with  a  lady  fair.' 

Fol  lol,  etc. 

With  that  she  ros'd  up  in  the  morning, 

Early  as  by  break  of  day  ; 
And  she  met  her  Billy  Taylor 

Walking  with  a  lady  gay. 

Fol  lol,  etc. 

Forthwith  she  call'd  for  sword  and  pistol, 

Which  did  come  at  her  command, 
And  she  shot  her  Billy  Taylor, 

With  his  fair  one  in  his  hand. 

Fol  lol,  etc. 

When  the  captain  com'd  for  to  hear  on't, 

He  werry  much  applauded  her  for  what  she  had  done 
And  quickly  he  made  her  the  first  lieutenant 

Of  the  gallant  Thunder  Bomb. 

Fol  lol,  etc. 


CAWSAND  BAY. 

In  Cawsand  Bay  lying, 

The  Blue  Peter  flying, 
And  all  hands  turned  up  for  the  anchor  to  weigh 

There  came  a  young  lady, 

As  fresh  as  a  May  day, 
And  modestly  hailing,  this  damsel  did  say  : 


CAWSAND   BAY  329 

1 1  want  my  young  man,  there, 

Do  you  hear  !  bear  a  ban'  there, 
To  hoist  me  on  board,  or  to  send  him  to  ine  ; 

His  name's  Henry  Grady, 

And  I  am  a  lady 
Come  off  to  prevent  him  from  going  to  sea.' 

The  captain,  his  honour, 

When  he  looked  upon  her, 
Ran  down  the  ship's  side  for  to  help  her  aboard  ; 

Says  he  with  emotion, 

'  What  son  of  the  ocean 
Can  thus  be  looked  after  by  Helena  Ford  ?  ' 

The  lady  made  answer  : 

'  That  there  is  my  man,  sir, 
I'll  make  him  as  fine  and  as  free  as  a  lord ; ' 

'  No,  no,'  says  the  cap'n, 

1  That  can't  very  well  happen, 
I've  got  sailing  orders;  you,  sir,  stay  on  board.' 

1  Avast,'  says  the  lady, 

'  Don't  you  heed  him,  Henry  Grady, 
He  once  was  your  captain,  but  now  you're  at  large  ; 

You  shan't  stay  aboard  here, 

For  all  that  man's  order  ;  ' 
Then  out  of  her  bosom  she  hauled  his  discharge. 


1  b' 


Says  the  captain,  says  he  now  : 
'  I'm  blowed,  but  he's  free  now '  ; 

Says  Jack,  '  Let  old  Weatherface  keep  all  my  clothes  ;' 
On  shore  then  he  steered  her, 
And  the  lads  they  all  cheered  her, 

But  the  captain  was  jealous,  and  looked  down  his  nose. 

Then  she  got  a  shore  tailor 

To  rig  her  young  sailor 
In  tight  Nankin  breeches,  and  a  blue  long-tailed  coat ; 

And  he  looked  like  a  squire 

For  all  to  admire, 
With  a  dimity  handkerchief  tied  round  his  throat. 

And  they  had  a  house  greater 

Than  e'er  a  first-rater, 
With  servants  in  uniform  handing  the  drink  ; 

And  a  garden  to  go  in 

Where  the  flowers  was  a-blowin', 
The  daisy,  the  buttercup,  lily  and  pink. 


33o  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 


3 


And  he  got  education 

Quite  fit  for  his  station, 
For  you  know  we  are  never  too  old  for  to  learn  ; 

And  his  shipmates  they  found  him, 

With  his  young  ones  around  him, 
All  chips  of  the  old  block,  from  the  stem  to  the  stern. 


GENERAL    CAMPBELL. 

It  was  in  the  month  of  April,  upon  the  fourteenth  day, 
This  expedition  did  embark  to  cross  the  raging  sea  ; 
Our  fleet  being  well  prepared,  our  anchors  we  did  weigh, 
To  sail  against  the  Burmese  to  show  them  British  play. 

When  we  embark'd  from  Madras  it  grieved  our  hearts  full  sore, 
Our  wives  and  children  weeping  as  they  sat  on  the  shore, 
Crying,  '  Art  thou  gone  and  left  us  thy  absence  for  to  mourn, 
To  languish  on  a  foreign  land  awaiting  thy  return  ?  ' 

We  left  the  roads  of  Madras  upon  the  sixteenth  day ; 

Each  man  being  well  prepared  and  eager  for  the  fray, 

Our  squadron  form'd  a  brilliant  line  to  shew  a  grand  half-moon  : 

With  British  colours  flying,  we  sailed  against  Rangoon. 

When  we  were  three  days  sailing,  three  sails  appear'd  in  view ; 
We  fir'd  off  a  signal  gun,  when  quickly  they  lay  to  : 
Our  commodore  bore  down  on  them,  we  followed  him  in  line, 
But  they  proved  to  be  some  British  troops  awaiting  us  to  join. 

Next  to  Port  Cornwallis  our  course  we  then  did  steer, 
And  hoisted  all  our  stunsails  without  either  dread  or  fear. 
The  next  thing  that  appear'd  in  view  was  the  Calcutta  fleet, 
Was  lying  there  at  anchor,  all  waiting  us  to  meet. 

Our  fleet  being  assembled  (the  sail  was  sixty-three) 

A  signal  gun  for  sailing  was  fired  instantly ; 

When  out  to  sea  we  bore  again,  and  sailed  both  night  and  day, 

And  on  the  tenth  of  May,  my  boys,  we  anchor'd  in  their  bay. 


ADVENTURES   OF  CAPTAIN  ROSS    x%\ 

It  was  early  the  next  morning,  the  weather  being  fair, 
We  weigh'd  our  anchors  to  the  bows,  and  up  the  river  did  sU 
The  enemy  commenced  on  shore  to  put  us  to  the  rout  ; 
But  we  upon  the  decks  did  stand,  resolved  to  fight  it  out. 

The  Lilly  frigate  led  the  way,  when  clouds  of  smoke  did  rise, 
The  Leander  sloop  in  company,  which  did  our  foes  surprise  ; 
The  Sophia  brig  and  gun  boats,  their  cannon  loud  did  roar, 
Like  thunder  rent  the  elements  all  on  the  Burmese  shore. 

'  All  hands  prepare  for  landing  ! '  resounded  through  the  fleet ; 
'  Let  every  man  have  sixty  rounds  his  enemy  for  to  meet' 
Like  lions  bold  we  rushed  on  shore  at  ten  o'clock  that  day  : 
These  cowardly  dogs  could  not  us  stand,  we  forced  them  to  give 
way. 

Now  Rangoon  we  have  taken,  let  us  drink  unto  our  king  ; 
May  all  his  loyal  subjects  fresh  laurels  to  him  bring. 
Likewise  to  General  Campbell,  who  commanded  on  that  day. 
And  pull'd  their  saucy  peacock  down  on  the  eleventh  day   of 
May. 


THE    BOLD    ADVENTURES    OF  CAPTAIN  ROSS. 

Mr— Tars  of  the  '  Blanche.' 

Come  listen  awhile  with  attention, 

You  seamen  and  landsmen  likewise, 
While  I  of  a  hero  will  mention 

Which  England,  fam'd  England,  should  prize. 
Bold  Ross  was  our  noble  commander, 

His  equal  was  ne'er  seen  before  ; 
But  mark  what  us  sailors  went  under 

When  we  sailed  from  Old  England's  shore. 

We  sail'd  to  the  Pacific  Ocean, 

Our  hearts  both  undaunted  and  free, 
Bold  Ross  cheered  us  all  with  the  notion 

That  we  should  all  prosperous  be  ; 
But  our  mainmast  was  soon  smashed  to  pieces 

While  we  hauled  in  the  ship  Fury's  store. 
Said  Ross,  '  Now  the  tempest  increases, 

'Tis  for  honour  of  Old  England's  shore.' 


332  SONGS   AND  BALLADS 

Long  time  in  tempestuous  weather, 

'Midst  rocks,  ice  and  water  were  we ; 
We  were  staunch,  bold,  and  vowed  to  each  other 

To  die  or  the  North  Pole  to  see. 
Ross  espied  from  the  ship's  starboard  quarter 

The  land  that  did  add  to  their  store — 
Crying,  '  Look  out,  my  boys,  for  fresh  water, 

We're  far  from  Old  England's  shore.' 

Our  hardships  we  bore,  and  were  ready 

To  follow  our  brave  captain's  call, 
Who  was  bold,  was  undaunted  but  ready, 

His  study  alone  was  us  all ; 
While  we  roamed  o'er  the  cold  stormy  regions, 

On  wilds  that  were  ne'er  trod  before, 
No  cot,  house,  or  church  or  religion, 

Like  those  upon  Old  England's  shore. 

You  may  talk  about  Parry  and  Cook,  boys, 

Who  tried  these  cold  regions  to  find — 
Only  a  short  trip  they  took,  boys, 

Then  left  the  bright  magnet  behind. 
Bold  Ross  left  the  British  flag  flying, 

Which  no  one  could  e'er  do  before, 
Then  light-hearted,  though  nearly  dying, 

Came  with  glory  to  Old  England's  shore. 

;Twas  thought  that  no  one  since  Creation 

Would  find  it  until  time  did  end  ; 
But  King  William's  name  of  this  nation 

So  proud  on  that  magnet  does  bend. 
So  build  for  bold  Ross  a  fine  pillar, 

And  cast  it  with  gold  letters  o'er ; 
Bold  Ross  brav'd  the  wave,  ice,  and  billow, 

In  triumph  reached  Old  England's  shore. 

This  hero,  the  pride  of  our  nation, 

Gained  honour,  likewise  his  ship's  crew  ; 
May  they  rise  into  dignity's  station 

For  being  undaunted  and  true. 
Bold  Ross,  as  a  pledge  of  honour, 

With  the  Lord  Mayor  of  London  did  dine, 
And  they  gave  him  three  cheers  and  a  bumper, 

Drank  to  trade  and  to  commerce  in  wine. 


CAPTURE   OF  ST.  JEAN   D'ACRE 


j  j  j 


THE   CAPTURE   OF  ST  JEAN    UACRE. 

Come,  all  you  old  warlike  liners,  who  boast  of  deeds  of  war 
Achieved  by  famous  Nelson  in  the  glorious  days  of  yore, 
Hear  what  has  happened  lately  along  the  Syrian  roast  : 
The  downfall  of  the  Egyptians,  of  which  we  made  our  boast. 

So  here's  a  health  to  brave  Napier ;  to  I' rare  Napier  hutsa  ' 
Who  conquered  the  Egyptians,  ami  made  them  run  aw 

On  the  first  day  of  November,  and  forty  was  the  year, 
The  Wasp  off  St.  Jean  d'Acre  arrived,  as  you  may  hear. 
That  night  we  anchor'd  in  the  bay,  and  lay  there  all  the  night : 
At  half-past  ten  the  following  day,  the  squadron  hove  in  s: 

As  they  came  in  they  anchor'd,  and  furl'd  without  more  ado  ; 
But  some  of  us  kept  under  weigh,  the  Castor,  Wasp,  and  Co. 
The  next  forenoon  they  all  did  weigh,  (it  was  our  admirals  plan) 
To  close  with  St.  Jean  d'Acre ;  the  Poiverful  led  the  van. 

U'e  took  up  our  positions,  abreast  of  Acre  town. 
Determin'd,  if  they'd  not  give  in,  to  knock  their  ramparts  down. 
A  flag  of  truce  was  then  sent  in,  but  they  refused  to  treat 
Or  come  to  any  peaceful  terms  with  this  gallant  British  fleet. 

At  half-past  two  that  afternoon  the  action  did  begin  : 
Our  shot  and  shell  swift  flew  like  hail,  the  ramparts  soon  fell  in  : 
The  flagship  and  the  /'  w  /////showed  them  smart  British  p] 
Against  the  noble  Benboic's  fire  the  Egyptians  could  not  stay. 

The  Castor  acted  well  her  part  :  the  foe  strove  hard  to  shake  her. 
But  rather  hot   she  sent  her  shot  'gainst  the  forts  of  St. 

d'Acre. 
The  Edinburgh  and  Revenge,  the  Carysfort  and  Pique, 
The  Hazard  and  the  Talbot  made  them  think  of  quick  retreat. 

The  saucy  Thunderer  that  day  poured  forth  her  British  thunder. 
Knowing   well  it  was    the    surest  way  to   make  her   foes    knock 

under. 
Besides,  four  steamers  fit  for  war  were  there,  I  am  proud  to  tell  ; 
They  harassed  well  our  enemy  with  death-conveying  shell. 


334  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

The  warlike  brave  Belkrophon  is  worthy  of  her  name  ; 

For  as  she  ranged  up  to  the  forts  she  poured  forth  smoke  and 

flame. 
Austrian  frigates  and  the  Turks,  although  in  number  few, 
By  Britons  led  they  did  their  best — great  praise  to  them  is  due. 

Then   comes   the  little  stinging  Wasp,  her  weight  in  gold  she's 

worth  ; 
For  under  the  walls  of  Acre  she  took  a  liner's  berth  : 
As  close  as  ever  she  could  get,  her  captain  strove  to  take  her, 
And  sprung  her  broadsides  to  the  forts,  and  stung  poor  St.  Jean 

d'Acre. 


That  afternoon,  at  four  o'clock,  we  heard  a  dreadful  roar  : 
Each  vessel  trembled  at  the  shock,  each  eye  was  turned  on  shore. 
One  of  their  magazines  blew  up,  it  was  an  awful  sight ; 
Death  made  an  awful  conquest  there,  the  heavens  were  black  as 
night. 

The  poor  Egyptians,  paralysed,  scarce  knew  what  course  to  take, 
And  after  five  they  all  began  their  quarters  to  forsake : 
A  general  terror  soon  was  spread  throughout  the  shattered  town ; 
They  confess'd  us  British  conquerors  and   haul'd   their  colours 
down. 


THE  BORNEO  HEROES. 

Come,  all  you  jolly  sailors  bold,  the  truth  you  soon  shall  know 
Concerning  of  a  glorious  fight  on  the  Isle  of  Borneo. 
As  we  were  cruising  off  the  coast  we  heard  the  dreadful  news 
How  the  pirates  they  had  massacred  our  merchants'  crews. 

Huzza  !  huzza  1  huzza  !  huzza  !  zvith   Captain   Talbot,  boys, 
zve'Il  die  or  win  the  day  ! 

The  news  it  flew  like  lightning,  from  ship  to  ship  it  ran  : 
Admiral  Cochrane  gave  the  word,  brave  Talbot  led  the  van  ; 
And  soon  we  manned  all  our  boats,  and  down  the  river  flew. 
Brave  Talbot  he  commanded  us  with  all  the  vessel's  crew. 

Huzza,  etc. 


THE  SLAVE   CHASE  335 

When  we  came  up  to  the  boom  we  found  it  so  so 
The  cannon  from  their  batteries  on  us  poor  lads  did  pour  ; 
But  soon  we  cut  our  way  through,  like  lions  sprang  on  shi 
And  soon  five  hundred  pirates  lay  bleeding  in  their  gore. 

Jlu:  :  I,  <.' 

While  they  were  bleeding  in  their  gore  we  rushed  into  their  town, 
And  there  the  produce  of  many  a  gallant  ship  we  found  ; 
For  plunder  and  distribution,  boys,  it  was  our  whole  intent  : 
In  one  hour  and  twenty  minutes  the  town  to  ashes  sent. 

Huzza,  etc. 

When  we  returned  to  our  admiral  and  told    him    the  glorious 

news, 
'Three  cheers,  my  boys,  for  England,  and  all  the  gallant  crews  ! 
So  we'll  drink  to  Admiral  Cochrane,  and  gallant  Talbot  too, 
The  officers  of  the  squadron,  and  all  the  vessel's  crew. 

J/uzza,  etc. 

Now  we  have  returned  to  England,  to  let  our  friends  all  know 
How  we  destroyed  the  pirates  on  the  coast  of  Borne  i  . 
For  we  left  the  flag  of  England  by  all  nations  to  be  seen  : 
And  for  our  reward  we'll  boldly  go,  boys,  to  our  gracious  Queen. 

Huzza,  etc. 


THE    SLAVE   CHASE. 

Set  every  stitch  of  canvas  to  woo  the  fresh'ning  wind  ; 
Our  bowsprit  points  to  Cuba,  the  coast  lies  far  behind. 
Filled  to  the  hatches  full,  my  boys,  across  ti  we  go; 

There's  twice  five  hundred  niggers  in  the  stifling  hold  below. 
'A  sail  !     What  say  you,  boys?     Well     let  him  give  us  cha 
A  British  man-of-war  you  say — well,  let  him  try  the  race  ; 
There's  not  a  swifter  vessel  ever  floated  on  the  wai 
Than  our  tidy  little  schooner  well  ballasted  with  slav^ 

Now  stronger  yet  and  stronger  still  came  down  the  fiery  I 
And  ever  fast  and  faster  sped  the  strange  ship  on  the  sea 
Flinging  each  rude  and  bursting  surge  in  glittering  haloes  back, 
And  bearing  high  to  heaven  aloft  the  English  Union  Jack  ! 
'  Now  curses  on  that  ensign,'  the  slaving  captain  said  : 
'There's  little  luck  for  slavers  when  the  English  bunt.: 
But  pack  on  sail  and  trim  the  ship  ;  before  we'll  captured  be 
We'll  have  the  niggers  up,  my  boys,  and  heave  them  in  the  sea.' 


336  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

Hoarse  was  the  slaving  captain's  voice,  and  deep  the  oath  he 

swore  : 
'  Haul  down  the   flag ;  that's  shot  enough,  we  don't  want  any 

more.' 
Alongside  dashed  the  cruiser's  boat  to  board  and  seize  the  prize. 
Hark  to  that  rattling  British  cheer  that's  ringing  to  the  skies  ! 
'  Up,  up  with  the  negroes  speedily  ;  up,  up,  and  give  them  breath  ; 
Clear  out  the  hold  from  stem  to  stern  :  that  noisome  den  is  death  ; 
And  run  aloft  St.  George's  Cross,  all  wanton  let  it  wave, 
The  token  proud  that  under  it  there  never  treads  a  slave.' 


THE    RUSSIANS    WO  JSP  T    COME    OUT 
Written  by  a  seaman  on  board  the  Cressy. 

What  can  we  luckless  sailors  do  ?  no  fun  comes  to  our  share ; 
The  enemy  keeps  out  of  view — to  meet  us  they  won't  dare  ! 
In  vain  our  pennants  fly  so  gay,  our  cruisers  roam  about, 
We  might  as  well  in  Portsmouth  lay — the  Russians  won't  come 
out ! 

In  Helsingfors  they  lay  quite  close;  'neath  Cronstadt  mole  they 

crowd  : 
They'll  not  come  out  and  meet  the  foes  whom  once  they  dared 

so  loud. 
Like  to  some  worn-out  batter'd  hulk  each  gallant  ship  so  stout 
Behind  the  batteries  does  skulk — the  cowards  won't  come  out ! 

The  Arrogant  and  Hecla,  too,  gave  them  a  lesson  rough  ; 

Tho'  fighting  to  our  lads  was  new  they  proved  both  smart  and 

tough  ; 
They   strewed    the    ground   with    soldiers    gay,    their    batteries 

knocked  about, 
And  brought  their  merchant  ships  away,  yet  still  they  won't  come 

out  ! 

While  in  the  Baltic  we  deplore  our  idle  time  at  sea, 

Our  comrades  on  the  Turkish  shore  are  as  badly  off  as  we. 

Though  many  ships  they've  made  their  own,  ta'en  many  a  strong 

redoubt, 
And  batter'd  half  Odessa  down,  the  Russians  won't  come  out  ! 


DON'T  FORGET   YOUR   SHIPMATE    337 

That  mighty  man,  Prince  Menschikoff,  in  harbour  still  does  lie, 

And  at  the  Allied  Fleets  does  scoff  as  they  are  sailing  by. 

•  Don't  think,'  says  he,   '  that  I'm  a  fool,  a  valiant,  headstrong 

lout; 
I'm  safe  and  snug  in  Sebastopol,  and  be  hanged  if  I'll  come  out.' 

Oh  !  would  they  but  their  anchors  weigh  and  boldly  put  to  sea, 
With  joy  to  see  a  sight  so  gay  how  full  each  heart  would  be ; 
But  oh  !  such  wishes  are  in  vain  :  they  know  there's  little  doubt, 
They  never  would  get  in  again  if  once  they  venture  out. 


DON'T  FORGET   YOUR   OLD   SHIPMATE. 


We're  the  boys  that  fear  no  noise 

Whilst  thundering  cannons  roar, 
And  long  we've  toiled  on  the  rolling  wave, 
And  now  we're  safe  on  shore. 

Don  't  forget  your  old  shipmate, 
Fol  de  rol. 


Since  we  sailed  from  Plymouth  Sound, 
Four  years  gone,  to-night,  Jack, 

Were  there  ever  chummies  known, 
Such  as  you  and  I,  Jack  ? 
Don't  forget,  etc. 

We  have  served  the  self-same  gun, 

Quarter-deck  division, 
Sponger  I,  and  loader  you, 

Through  the  whole  commission. 
Don't  forget,  etc. 

Oftentimes  have  we  laid  out, 

Toil  nor  danger  fearing, 
Hauling  out  the  flapping  sail 

To  the  weather  ear-ring. 
Don't  forget,  etc. 


33&  SOJVGS  AND   BALLADS 

When  the  middle  watch  was  on, 

And  the  time  went  slow,  boy. 
Who  could  tune  a  rousing  stave. 

Who  like  Jack  or  Joe,  boy  ? 
Don't  forget,  etc. 

There  she  swings  an  empty  hulk, 

Not  a  soul  below  now  ; 
Number  seven,  starboard  mess, 

Misses  Jack  and  Joe  now. 
Don't  forget,  etc. 

But  the  best  of  friends  must  part, 

Fair  or  foul  the  weather  ; 
Tip  us  your  flipper  for  a  shake, 

Now  a  drink  together  ; 

And  don't  forget  your  old  shipmate,  etc. 


NOTES 

of  references  and  words 'aTf^  &  H^f fiZZL****" 

L-ine  i.  Lithes=listen. 

(bofeSmedT-f  betn""6  ;    Sad=Seri°US  ;    ■"—*•«  i    "-■ 

burn ;  unkind.unnaTura,  ^'J^f^X^ 
greaTr^n,3e= tSe=bUr?eSSeS  ;  — ^  |  leS£L,,, 
Stanza  4. -Sergantes  =  sergeants,  soldiers  ;  snell=quick 

waniand=waning  (moon)  ^  ;    sary= retched  ; 

2r=^«i«a^3R?  Mat,,  t& 

Stanza  8.— The  due  of  Lankaster=Henrv  of  Derh.  •  «m. 

budS^ofedEtb=SeaS7J  raW='ine'  °rder  of  battle:  **-*J 
Stanza  10—  Earl  of  Gloucester = Hugh  dc  Audlev  •  crlaA.- 
gladden;     b,ker=figh,  ;     baldel^bravefy;    {£* 

Stanza  11.— Presto  ready. 

Stanza   i2.-John  of  Aile=Ian  van  Eyle  or  Hevlle  •   srh,l 

v-anuv  —  eageriv  ,  tene  =  sorro\v 
kithS=show,3~SW"h=q,lickly:  sknlh=«*pe  ;  konth=knew  ; 


Z   2 


340  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Stanza  15. — Wall=choice  ;  flude  (flode)=sea  ;  confort= 
cheer. 

Stanza  16. — Gert=caused;  blin=cease. 

P.  3.  Les  Espagnols  sur  Mer.  From  Joseph  Hall's  edition 
of  the  -Poems  of  Lawrence  Minot,  p.  33. 

Stanza  1. — Spede=cause  to  prosper;  wight=stout;  dale= 
earth,  grave  ;  fele=many;  fare=brag. 

Stanza  2. — Taburns=tabours,  small  drums  ;  weremen= 
warriors;  holl  =  hull. 

Stanza  3. — Hurdis = bulwark  ;  on  here=on  high;  neghed= 
approached;  snaper=stumble ;  ferr=farther ;  fine=come  to  an 
end,  die;  tyne=lose;  reved=carried  off. 

Stanza  4. — Boy  with  thi  blac  berd— Barbenoire  or  Bocca- 
Negra,  pirate  of  Genoa;  rede=advise  ;  blin = cease  ;  were  on= 
fight  against ;  domp=plunge  ;  lout=bow  low  to. 

P.  4.  The  Pilgrims'  Sea  Voyage.  From  a  MS.  in  the 
library  of  Trinity  College,  Cambridge.  Edited  by  J.  F.  Furnivall 
for  the  Early  English  Text  Society  in  1867 ;  also  printed  in 
Halliwell's  Early  Naval  Ballads,  p.  1.  Date  of  MS.  temp. 
Henry  VI.     A  translation  is  given  by  Clowes,  The  Royal  Navy, 

i-  344- 

On  p.  5,  line  15,  'lyle'  is  a  misprint  for  'lyke.' 

Stanza  1. — Gramys= troubles. 

Stanza  2. — Hissa=hoist  away  :  French  '  hissez' ;  crake=talk. 

Stanza  3. — Taylia=haul  aft  the  sheet. 

Stanza  4. — No  nere=steer  no  nearer  the  wind.  The  note 
of  interrogation  is  clearly  wrong. 

Stanza  5. — Trussa=haul  on  the  truss ;  probably  the  French 
'troussez.'  Wartake= French  'uretacque'  (Jal) ;  defined  by 
Falconer  as  'the  preventer  fore  tack.'     Cf.  Inventories  of  Henry 

F//.,p.  71. 

Stanza  6. — Pery=a  squall;  Thou  canst  no  whery=thou 
understandest  not  a  ship. 

P.  6.  Sir  Andrew  Barton.  Text  in  Hales  and  Furnivall, 
Bishop  Percy's  Folio  MS.,  iii.  399,  and  in  Child,  English  and 
Scottish  Popular  Ballads,  iii.  334.  There  is  also  a  later  broad- 
side version  which  is  printed  in  A  Collection  of  Old  Ballads, 
1723,  i.  159,  and  in  Roxburghe  Ballads,  i.  10.  Percy's  Reliques 
contains  a  composite  version. 

Bishop  Percy's  MS.  is  said  to  belong  to  the  reign  of  Charles  I., 
but  the  version  of  this  ballad  it  contains  probably  belongs  to  an 
earlier  period.  It  apparently  attributes  to  Charles,  Lord  Howard 
of  Effingham,  who  died  in  1624,  the  exploit  of  his  kinsman,  Sir 
Edward  Howard,  who  died  in  15 13,  a  kind  of  confusion  which  is 
not  uncommon  in  ballads  handed  down  by  tradition. 

Contemporary    narratives    give    no   account    of    Sir   Edward 


ArOT£S  341 

Howard's  tactics,  and  the  details  given  are  probably  the  invention 
of  the  author  of  the  ballad.  The  reference  to  '  beams  '  in  stanzas 
7  and  9  on  p.  9  has  been  explained  in  many  different  ways.  One 
explanation  is  that  it  refers  to  some  primitive  form  <>f  ram,  such 
as  that  described  by  De  la  Ronciere  in  his  Histoire  de  la  Marine 
Francaise,  i.  256.  Another  is,  that  the  '  beams,'  also  termed  in 
the  MS.  '  beanes'  or  'beaves,'  were  heavy  weights  designed  to  be 
dropped  on  the  enemy's  ship.  It  seems  more  likely  that  some 
apparatus  for  grappling  the  enemy's  ship  was  meant.  '  He  cla 
me  to  his  archborde'  says  the  merchant  in  stanza  3  on  p.  9. 
'Archborde'  is  explained  by  Hales  and  Furnivall  in  a  note  to 
mean  the  side  of  a  ship,  and  to  be  the  same  as  'hatch-bord.' 
Bishop  Percfs  Folio  MS.,  iii.  407. 

The    two   following   stanzas    from    Percy's   Pelii/ues,    i.    335, 
ed.  1893,  will  serve  to  fill  the  gap  on  p.  10  of  the  U 

1  And  seven  pieces  of  ordinance, 

I  pray  your  honour  lend  to  mee, 
On  each  side  of  my  ship  along, 

And  I  will  lead  you  on  the  sea. 
A  glasse  He  sett,  that  may  be  seene, 

Whether  you  sayle  by  day  or  night ; 
And  to-morrowe,  I  sweare,  by  nine  of  the  clocke 

You  shall  meet  with  Sir  Andrew  Barton,  knight.' 

The  Second  Part. 

'  The  merchant  sett  my  lorde  a  glasse 

So  well  apparent  in  his  sight, 
And  on  the  morrowe,  by  nine  of  the  clocke. 

He  shewed  him  Sir  Andrewe  Barton,  knight. 
His  hachebord  it  was  gilt  with  gold, 

So  deerlye  dight  it  dazzled  the  ee  : 
"  Nowe  by  my  faith,"  lord  Howarde  sais, 

This  is  a  gallant  sight  to  see.' 

P.  16.  John  Dory.  Text  in  Ritson,  Ancient  Songs  and 
Ballads,  ed.  1877,  p.  198,  and  in  Child,  English  and  Sottish 
Popular  Ballads,  v.  131.  The  ballad  was  first  printed  in  1609, 
but  is  mentioned  in  1575.  Tune  in  Chappell,  Old  English 
Popular  Music,  i.  93,  ed.  Wooldridge.  It  refers  to  no  kn 
historical  event,  but  is  perhaps  a  traditional  account  of  some 
incident  in  the  Hundred  Years'  War.  Carew,  in  his  Survey  of 
Cornwall,  refers  to  the  ballad  as  'an  old  three-man's  song'  about 
'  one  Nicholas,  son  to  a  widow  near  Fey '  (ed.  1602,  p.  135). 

P.  17.  The  Mariner's  Song.      From  the  Comedy  of  Common 
Conditions,    circa     1570.       Printed     by    J.    P.     Collier,     English 


342  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Dramatic  Poetry,  ed.  1879,  ii.  293 ;  also  in  Stone's  Sea  Songs  and 
Ballads,  p.  4. 

P.  18.  The  Obtaining;  of  the  Great  Galleazzo.  Roxburghe 

Ballads,  vi.  384.  Also  printed  in  Arber's  Tudor  Tracts,  p.  485, 
and  in  J.  P.  Collier's  Broadside  Black- Letter  Ballads,  1868,  p.  79, 
which  gives  some  variants.     By  Thomas  Deloney. 

P.  21.    The    Winning     Of    Cales.       Roxburghe    Ballads, 
vi.   402.     Printed  also   in   Hales   and  Furnivall,  Bishop  Percy's 
Folio  MS.,   iii.    453,    which   gives   some   variants.     Written   by 
Thomas  Deloney,  and  probably  first  appeared  in  his  Garland  of 
Good  Will,  about  1596,  soon  after  the  capture  of  Cadiz. 

P.  23.  The  Sailor's  Onely  Delight.  Roxburghe  Ballads, 
vi.  408.  A  version  with  variants  is  given  by  Child,  English  and 
Scottish  Popular  Ballads,  v.  133.  In  Fletcher's  Two  Noble 
Kinsmen,  the  jailor's  daughter  sings  a  fragment  of  an  earlier 
version  : 

The  George  Alow  came  from  the  South 

From  the  coast  of  Barbary-a  ; 
And  there  he  met  with  brave  gallants  of  war 

By  one,  by  two,  by  three-a. 
Well  hail'd,  well  hail'd,  you  jolly  gallants, 

And  whither  now  are  you  bound-a  ? 
O  let  me  have  your  company 
Till  [I]  come  unto  the  Sound-a. 

The  second  part  of  the  ballad  was  licensed  in  161 1  :  the  first 
part  is  not  entered,  but  the  tune  is  that  of  a  ballad  registered 
in  March  161 1  (Arber,  Stationers'  Register,  iii.  206,  b.).  The 
ballad  may  refer  to  an  historical  event.  'In  1596  letters 
of  reprisal  were  granted  to  Diggory  Piper  in  the  Sweepstakes 
of  London  .  .  .  He  was  authorised  to  attack  Spanish  and 
Portuguese  ships  ;  he  commenced  with  some  Flemings,  continued 
with  two  French  traders,  and  finished  with  a  Dane  having  goods 
worth  3,000/.  on  board.'  (Oppenheim,  The  Administration  of  t lit 
Royal  Navy,  p.  180). 

P.  25.  The  Seaman's  Song-  of  Captain  Ward.  Roxburghe 
Ballads,  vi.  784.  Date  of  first  publication  July  3,  1609  (Arber, 
Stationers'  Register,  iii.  185,  b.). 

P.  27.  The  Song"  Of  Danseker.  Roxburghe  Ballads,  vi. 
423.     Same  date  as  the  preceding. 

P.  30.  Captain  Ward  and  the  Rainbow.  Roxburghe 
Ballads,  vi.  426.  The  earliest  printed  editions  of  this  ballad 
belong  to  the  latter  half  of  the  seventeenth  century.  It  was 
reprinted  as  a  broadside  by  J.  Pitts  in  the  early  part  of  the 
nineteenth  century.  See  Logan,  A  Pedlar's  Pack,  p.  7.  The 
ballad  is  possibly  a  legendary  version  of  Rainborow's  expedition 


NOTES  34. 


toSallee  in  1637.     Essex  is  celebrated  as  a  naval  commander  in 
Queen  Elizabeth's  Champion  (Roxburgh*  Ballads  v..  4°5). 

p    51   The   Lamentable  Cries   of   1,500    Christians. 
Text  from  a  MS.  in  the  Bodleian  Library  {MS.  Rawhnson  Poet. 

CULP   334.    The    Honour    Of    Bristol.      Roxburgh*    Ballads, 
vi  429.    A  later  version,  entitled  The  Jovial  Marines  Resolution 
is'contained  in  a  chapbook,  called  The  Jovial  Manner 's  Garland, 
in  the  Bodleian  Library  (Douce  P.P.  183). 

P.  36.  Neptune  to  England.  Printed  by  Ha hwell,  Earfy 
Naval  Ballads,  p.  68,  from  MS.  Sloane,  1514,  t  40,  m  the 
British  Museum.  -  ,,    ,,c   , 

p.  36.  On  His  Majesties  Fleet.    Text  from  ^^.  JI/.S.  29, 

071   f.  109,  in  the  British  Museum. 

P  xi  Upon  the  Great  Ship.  Text  from  MS.  Rawhnson 
Poetdl  f  164,  in  the  Bodleian  Library.  A  poem  on  the  same 
^bjecUn  iltiS  and  English  is  printed  in  Sir  Richard  Fanshawe's 
Pastor  Fido  and  Poems,  ed.  1676,  p.  228.  „,TJ 

p.  40.  Sailors  for  my  Money.  Roxburgh*  B alt adsvu  79 7- 
Date  somewhere  between  1630  and  1655.  Mr.  Ebswor  h  dates 
k  1635.  On  its  author,  Martin  Parker,  see  Dictionary  of 
National  Biography,  xliii.  2 42  R   ,,    ,.     •    . 

P.  42.  The  Jovial  Mariner,  Roxburgh^  B"^>"'£* 
Attributed  by  Mr.  Ebsworth  to  John  Playford  and  dated  circa 

167°p:8445.  Neptune's   Raging  Fury      Poxbu'ghe   Ballads 

Vi   432       Written   about    1635,    says    Mr     Ebsworth  .Fo r    t 
tune  see  Chappell's  Old  English  Popular  Music,  ed.  tt  ooldndge. 

11  4P.  47.  The  Famous  Fight  at  Malago  Rf??H*?& 
iv.  412  and  Halliwell,  Early  Naval  Ballads,  p.  64.  The  figW 
took  place  in  July  1656.  The  five  frigates  wen e  th, e  >r 
Nantwich,  Newbury,  Maidstone,  and  Ruby,  with  the  Fo firesh>P 
so  that  only  one  of  the  names  given  in  verse  2  is  correct,  bee 
Thurloe  State  Papers,  v.  195,  233-  z57-  F 

P.  48.  Elegy  on  mo  Death  ol  Robert  Blake,    from  a 
pamphlet  in  the  British  Museum  (669.  f.  20 J21J  . 
V    P.  53.  The  Valiant  Seaman's  Congratulation  to  King 
Charles  II      From  the   Euing  collection  in  the  Library  ot  tt 
UnfversUy  of  Glasgow  (No.   368).     For  the  tune  see  Chappell, 
Old  English  Popular  Music,  \\.  \$-  piw—mw      From 

P.  54.  England's  Valour  and  Holland's  Terrour.  Worn 
the  Euing  collection  (No.  103).  f   Dorset 

P.  56  Song  Written  at  Sea.  By  the  Earl  of  uor*. . 
printed  in  Rochester's  Works,  ed  1731.  vol.".  P-  5  3,  ana 
reprinted  in  Ward's  English  Poets,   n.    4".     Tunc   and  ^^ 


344  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

in  Chappell's  Old  English  Popular  Musk,  ed.  Wooldridge,  ii.  154. 
In  the  last  line  of  verse  3  Chappell  reads  '  bring  '  instead  of 
'  waft.'  For  another  version,  see  Pills  to  Purge  Melancholy, 
v.  168. 

P.  58.  The  Royal  Victory.  Printed  in  Roxburghe  Ballads, 
vi.  435.  Dated  by  Ebsworth,  June  9,  1665.  Tune  given  in 
Chappell,  ed.  Wooldridge,  i.  259. 

P.  61.  The  English  Seaman's  Resolution.     From  the 

Euing  collection  (No.  106). 

P.  63.  England's  Tryumph  and  Holland's  Downfall. 

From  the  Euing  collection  (No.  93). 

P.  68.  England's  Royal  Conquest.  From  Anthony  Wood's 
collection  in  the  Bodleian  Library  (Wood,  E.  25.  f.  55).  Printed 
for  Richard  Burton,  at  the  Horse-Shoe  in  West-Smithfield. 

P.  69.  Holland  turn'd  to  Tinder.  From  the  Euing 
collection  (No.  134).  Printed  by  E.  Crowch  for  F.  Coles, 
T.  Vere,  and  J.  Wright. 

P.  72.  A  New  Ballad  of  a  Famous  German  Prince. 

From  Anthony  Wood's  collection  in  the  Bodleian  Library 
(Wood,  E.  416.  f.  in).    The  Second  Part  is  from  the  same  source 

(f.  "3)- 

P.  79.  The  Dutch  Damnified.     From  the  Euing  collection 

(No.  60). 

P.  82.  A  Song  on  the  Duke's  late  Glorious  Success. 

Printed  by  Halliwell,  Early  Naval  Ballads,  p.  62,  from  a 
broadside  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Rimbault.  On  the  battle  of 
Solebay,  May  28,  1672. 

P.  83.  News   from   the    Coast   of  Spain.     From   the 

Rawlinson  collection  in  the  Bodleian  (Rawlinson,  566,  p.  82). 
Action  February  13,  1674. 

P.  86.  Captain  Mansfield's  Fight  with  the  Turks. 
From  the  Madden  collection  in  the  Cambridge  University 
Library  (Slipsongs,  i.  120,  No.  260).  Probably  based  on 
Kempthorne's  repulse  of  the  seven  Algerine  ships,  December  29, 
1669.  May  refer  to  Captain  Michael  Mansfield,  on  whom  see 
Charnock,  Biographia  Navalis,  i.  348. 

P.  88.  The   Algiers   Slave's    Releasement.    Roxburghe 

Ballads,  vi.  447. 

P.  89.  The  Benjamin's  Lamentation.  Roxburghe  Ballads, 
vii.  529. 

P.  92.  The  Treachery  of  the  Spaniards  of  Porto  Rico. 

From  the  Pepys  collection  in  the  Library  of  Magdalene  College, 
Cambridge,  v.  374.  The  Journal  of  Ignatius  White,  the  captain 
of  the  Dartmouth,  gives  an  interesting  account  of  this  incident, 
dated  April  1686  (No.  3819).    See  also  MS.,  Rawlinson  A.,  clxxxix. 

f-  337- 


NOTES  345 

P.  95.  The  Golden  Voyage.  From  the  Pcpys  collection 
(iv.  199).  Printed  for  J.  Blare,  at  the  Looking  Glass  on  London 
Bridge. 

P.  97.  The  Boatswain's  Call.     Roxburi 

P.  99.  The    Undaunted    Seaman.      Roxburgh*   Ballads, 

vii.  55 1- 

P.  101.  The  Seaman's  Adieu.  Roxburgh*  Ballads,  vu.  5:4- 
P.  104.  The  Maiden's  Frolick.  Roxburghe  Ballads,  iii.  402. 
P.  106.  The  Courageous  Commander.     From  the  Pepys 

collection  (iv.  219).  Printed  for  R.  Kell,  at  the  White  Hart,  near 
Corner,  in  West  Smithfield. 

P.  108.  The  Seaman's  Victory.    Bagfbrd  Ballads,  1.  283. 

1'.  no.  Torringtonia.    From  the  Pepys  collection  (v.  377). 

P.  112.  England's  Triumph  at  Sea.  Roxburghe  Ballads, 
vii.  745,  and  Poems  on  Slate  Affairs,  T.  ii.  263.  The  text  of  the 
two  versions  differs.     Verses  9  and  10  are  added  from  a  manu- 

"p.  113.  England's  Great  Loss  by  a  Storm  of  Wind. 

Printed  in  Ashton's  Real  Sailor  Songs,  p.  40*.  Another  version 
is  in  the  Madden  collection,  entitled  A  Copy  of  Verses  made 
upon  the  Loss  of  the  Coronation,  and  eight  mare  Ships  oj  //  ar 
(Slipsonrs,  i.  174,  No.  372).  A  third  version,  printed  in  Marryats 
Poor  Jack,  is  headed  The  Return  from  the  Baltic  of  the  English 
Fleet  under  Admiral  Sir  Edicard  Russell.     All  are  lut.  ins, 

and  full  of  corruptions.  They  place  the  disaster  in  Novenil 
instead  of  September  1691,  and  differ  in  the  names  of  the  ships. 
According  to  Burchett,  the  Coronation  was  lost  with  most  of  her 
crew,  the  Harwich  '  ran  on  shore  and  bulged,'  the  Royal  Oak  and 
Northumberland  'tailed  on  the  ground,  though  afterwards  they 
were  luckily  got  off'  {Transactions  at  Sea,  p.  102;  cf.  ClOT 
ii.  345).  The  second  line  of  verse  4  is,  '■"  Marryafs  vision, 
'  But  fiercely  to  the  west  did  run'  ;  in  the  Madden  copy,  '  I  he 
sea  strong  to  the  west  did  run.'  In  verse  5,  Marryat  s  version 
runs  : 

'  A-shore  went  the  Northumberland. 

The  Harwich  and  the  Cumberland, 

The  Lion,  and  the  Warwick  too  ; 

But  Elizabeth,  she  had  most  for  to  rue, 

She  came  stem  on,  and  her  Lion  bros 

And  she  sunk  the  ( rloster  at  the  sti 

Marryat's  version  draws  a  moral  from  the  disaster  : 

'  They  was  punished  for  their  misdeeds 
For  grumbling  when  they  had  no  needs.' 


346  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

The  Madden  copy,  on  the  other  hand,  says  : 

'  Walking  Plymouth  streets  one  day, 
I  heard  some  sea  captains  for  to  say 
"  God  will  reward  us  for  our  deeds, 
In  flogging  men  when  there's  no  need."  ' 

There  are  many  minor  variations  in  the  three  versions  which  are 
not  worth  noting. 

P.   114.    Naval  Warfare  of  1692.    Roxbusghe  Ballads, 

vii.  746. 

P.  117.  The  Royal  Triumph.  Bagford  Ballads,  i.  297. 
'  Fistula  master '  in  verse  10  is  an  allusion  to  the  fact  that 
Louis  XIV.  was  operated  upon  for  a  fistula  November  18,  1686. 
(Martin,  Histoire  de  France,  4th  ed.  xiv.  74). 

P.  119.  Admiral  Russell's  Scowering*  the  French  Fleet. 
Printed  in  Bagford  Ballads,  i.  119,  from  a  copy  in  The  Midship- 
man's  Garland,  published  in  Queen  Anne's  reign.  The  tune  and 
four  verses  of  the  ballad  are  given  in  D'Urfey's  Pills  to  Purge 
Melancholy,  iv.  333.  In  the  second  verse  D'Urfey  reads  'scupper- 
holes  '  instead  of  '  port-holes,'  and  '  king  '  instead  of  '  queen  '  in 
verse  4.  Verses  5  and  6  are  probably  later  additions  to  th. 
original.  For  tune  see  The  Edinburgh  Musical  Miscellany , 
1804,  p.  270. 

P.  120.  A  Merry  New  Ballad.  From  the  Pepys  collection 
(v.  382).  A  broadside  printed  '  for  R.  Baldwin  near  the  Oxford 
Arms  in  Warwick  Lane,'  1692.  In  the  last  verse  '  Petres  '  refers 
to  Edward  Petre  the  Jesuit,  confessor  of  James  II. 

P.  125.  The  Valiant  Seaman's  Courage.  From  the 
Pepys  collection  (v.  385).  A  broadside  printed  for  C.  Bates 
at  the  White  Hart  in  West  Smithfield. 

P.  126.  England's  Glory  in  the  Behaviour  of  Brave 
KilleygTOVe.  Printed  in  Ashton's  Peal  Sailor  Songs,  p.  10. 
Original  in  British  Museum  (pressmark  1.  20.  c.  30  [18]).  See 
Charnock,  Biographia  Navalis,  ii.  328.  In  the  last  line  '  Mar- 
seilles '  is  evidently  a  misprint  for  '  Messina.' 

P.  128.  The  Frigiited  French.  Roxburghe  Ballads,  vi. 
446.     The  original  reads  '  do  tide '  in  verse  5. 

P.  129.  The  Caesar's  Victory.  From  the  Pepys  collection 
(iv.  198).  A  broadside  printed  for  J.  Deacon  at  the  Angel  in 
Giltspur  Street. 

P.  131.  A  Copy  of  Verses  by  Captain  Henry  Every. 
From  the  Pepys  collection  (v.  384).  There  is  an  eighteenth- 
century  version  in  the  Madden  collection  (Slipsongs  ii.  72, 
No.  1,  166)  entitled  Bold  Captain  Avery.  The  numerous  variants 
in  the  later  version  are  merely  corruptions  and  not  worth  noting. 


NOTES  347 

The  ballad  follows  very  closely  the  facts  set  forth  at  the  trial  of 
six  of  Even's  crew  in  1696.     Henry  Every,  a  id-man,  on 

May  30,  1694,  seized  a  merchant  ship  called  The  Charles  the 
Second,  Charles  Gibson  master,  as  she  lay  at  anchor  about  three 
leagues  from  the  Groyne  (i.e.  Corunna).  Having  set  Gibson  and 
sixteen  honest  men  ashore  and  renamed  the  ship,  Every  sailed 
for  the  coast  of  Guinea.  A  proclamation  against  Captain  Henry 
Every,  of  the  ship  Phancy,  was  issued  July  18,  1696  (LuttrelTs 
Diary,  iv.  86).  The  reference  to  the  different  flags  used  by 
pirates  in  verses  9-12  is  explained  by  the  following  extract  from 
the  narrative  of  a  captive  :  '  About  eleven  of  the  clock  one  night, 
after  the  whole  crew  had  been  some  time  assembled  in  the  gi 
cabbin,  I  heard  three  huzzas,  and  then  they  all  came  up  on  deck 
and  hoisted  Jolly  Roger  (for  so  they  call  their  black  ensign,  in  the 
middle  of  which  is  a  large  white  skeleton  with  a  dart  in  one  hand 
striking  a  bleeding  heart,  and  in  the  other  an  hour-glass).  .  .  . 
When  they  fight  under  Jolly  Roger  they  give  quarter,  which  they 
dc  not  when  they  fight  under  the  red  or  bloody  Sag  |  from 
Captain  Richard  Hawkins's  account  of  his  capture  by  Captain 
Spriggs  and  his  sufferings  amongst  the  pirates  of  the  Spanish 
Main  in  the  year  1724,  reprinted  in  Buyer's  Political  State  oj 
Great  Britain,  vol.  xxviii.  pp.  147-156). 

P.  r33.  Villany  Rewarded.  From  the  Pepys  collection 
(ii.  99).  A  broadside  printed  for  Charles  Barnes,  1696. 
The  Trial  of  Joseph  Dawson  &c.  for  several  Tirades  and  Robberies 
by  them  committed  in  company  of  Every  the  Grand  Pirate  :  London, 
1696,  folio.  The  six  accused  were  all  condemned  and  hanged  at 
Execution  Dock,  November  25,  1696. 

P.  r34.  Captain  Kid's  Farewell.  This  ballad  is  re 
printed,  for  the  first  time,  from  the  unique  example  in  the 
collection  of  Lord  Crawford.  The  trial  of  William  Kid  (or 
Kidd),  which  took  place  in  1701,  is  contained  in  volume  xiv. 
of  the  Stale  Trials,  p.  r23-  The  ballad  follows  the  trial  pretty 
closely.  One  indictment  against  Kid  was  for  the  murder  of  his 
gunner,  William  Moore.  The  dialogue  which  caused  the  assault 
is  thus  related.  Captain  Kid  called  Moore  '  a  lousy  dog.'  ' 
William  Moore,  "If  I  am  a  lousy  dog,  you  have  made  me 
you  have  brought  me  to  ruin,  and  many  more."  Upon  hi-,  saying 
this,  says  Captain  Kid,  "  Have  I  ruined  you,  ye  dog?  "  and  took 
a  bucket  bound  with  iron  hoops  and  struck  him  on  the  right  side 
of  the  head,  of  which  he  died  next  day.'  Another  indictment  was 
for  the  capture  of  a  merchant  ship  called  Tl  lagh  Merchant, 

bound  from  Bengal  to  Surat,  the  property  of  certain   Armenian 
merchants  and  Moors,  but  commanded  by  an   Englishman 
verse   7).     This   was    in  January    1698.     About  June    1696    Kid 
had  taken  on  his  voyage  to  New  York  'a  French  banker,' 


-1 


48  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 


witness  calls  it,  i.e.  a  French  fishing-ship  bound  for  Newfoundland 
(see  verse  8).  At  Babs  Key  or  Bobs  Key,  'a  small  island  at 
the  entrance  of  the  Red  Sea,'  Kid  projected  an  attack  upon 
'  the  Mocca  fleet,'  fourteen  or  fifteen  merchantmen  of  various 
nationalities,  but  found  them  too  strong  for  him  (verse  9). 

Captain  Culliford  (mentioned  in  verse  15)  was  a  notorious 
pirate,  commander  of  the  Resolution,  formerly  the  Mocca  frigate, 
whom  Kid  met  at  Madagascar.  When  they  met,  Culliford  thought 
Kid  had  come  to  arrest  him.  But  they  became  friends  at  once. 
And  on  the  quarter-deck  they  made  some  bomboo  and  drank 
together ;  and  Captain  Kid  said,  "  Before  I  would  do  you  any 
harm  I  would  have  my  soul  fry  in  hell  fire,"  and  wished  damnation 
to  himself  several  times  if  he  did'  {State  Trials,  xiv.  153,  167). 
In  the  report  of  the  trial  Culliford  is  described  as  now  in  custody, 
and  he  probably  followed  Kid  to  the  gallows. 

Kid  was  executed  May  23,  1701. 

On  his  case  see  also  A  full  Account  of  the  Proceedings  in 
relation  to  Capt.  Kidd,  in  A  Collection  of  State  Trials,  published 
during  the  Reign  of  King  William  III.,  vol.  iii.  p.  230. 

A  fragment  of  a  traditional  version  of  this  ballad  is  given  in 
Masefield's  A  Sailor's  Garland,  p.  17. 

P.  137.  A  Satyr  on  the  Sea  Officers.  Printed  in  the 
Miscellaneous  Works  of  George  Duke  of  Buckingham,  i.  p.  90, 
1704.  Probably  written  about  1691.  The  players  were  at  Oxford 
in  July  1 69 1  (Cal.  S.P.  Bom.,  1 690-1,  p.  430). 

P.  140.  The  Sea  Martyrs.  From  the  Pepys  collection 
(v.  375).  The  broadside  has  no  printer's  name  or  date.  Probably 
written  about  January  169 1.  Luttrell  notes,  about  the  middle 
of  December  1690,  that  'some  seamen  belonging  to  the  Suffolk 
man-of-war,  having  mutinied  for  want  of  their  pay,  are  secured 
and  sent  to  the  Marshalsea  in  order  to  their  trial '  (Diary, 
ii.  144.) 

P.  143.  Advice  to  Young"  Maidens.  From  The  Hampshire 
Garland  in  the  Douce  collection  in  the  Bodleian  Library. 

P.  145.  The  Seamen's  Wives'  Vindication.  From  the 
Pepys  collection  (iv.  185).  A  broadside  printed  for  J.  Deacon, 
at  the  Angel  in  Giltspur  Street. 

P.   146.  Billy    the    Midshipman's    Welcome    Home. 

Bagford  Ballads,  i.  112.  From  the  Midshipman's  Garland, 
published  about  the  beginning  of  Queen  Anne's  reign.  The  tune 
is  given  in  Pills  to  Purge  Melancholy,  v.  301. 

P.  148.  Admiral  BenbOW.  Printed  in  Halliwell's  Early 
Naval  Ballads,  p.  38.  A  slightly  different  version  is  given  in 
Ashton's  Real  Sailor  Songs,  p.  19*.  A  chapbook  dated  1784, 
entitled  Four  Excellent  New  Songs,  in  the  Bodleian  Library 
(Douce  S.  370)  seems  to  be  the  earliest  printed  version.     From 


NOTES  349 

it,  with  the  omission  of  three  or  four  words,  the  stanza  about 
Captain  Crosbie,  which  is  not  in  Halliwell's  version,  has  been 
added.  A  slipsong  printed  by  Jennings,  Water  Lane,  Fleet 
Street,  about  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century,  gives  the 
verse  thus  : 

'And  there  Captain  Kirby  proved  a  coward  at  last, 
And  with  Wade  played  at  bo-peep  behind  the  main-mast ; 
And  there  they  did  stand,  boys,  and  quiver  and  shake, 
For  fear  those  French  dogs  their  lives  should  take.' 


This  was  originally  a  much  longer  ballad  :  in  the  Jennings  and 
Douce  versions  there  are  many  variants  and  some  additional 
lines.     The  third  and  fourth  stanzas  in  the  former  run  as  folio- 

'  We  took  our  leave  of  them,  and  made  quick  dispatch, 
And  we  steered  our  course  to  the  island  of  Vache ; 
And  turning  to  the  windward  as  near  as  we  could  lie, 
On  the  14th  of  August  ten  sail  we  did  espy. 

They  hoisted  their  pendants  and  their  colours  spread, 
And  they  hoisted  their  bloody  flag  at  the  topmast  head ; 
Then  we  hoisted  our  jack  flag  at  the  mizen  peak, 
And  so  brought  up  our  squadron  in  a  line  most  complete.' 

The  Douce  version  has  this  fourth  stanza  in  slightly  different 
words,  but  omits  the  third.  It  reads  'chance  shot'  instead  of 
1  chain  shot.'  No  good  text  can  be  put  together  till  some  older 
and  more  authoritative  edition  of  the  ballad  is  discovered.  For 
the  tune,  see  ChappelFs  Old  English  Popular  Music,  ii.  92,  and 
also  Sharpe's  Folk  Songs  from  Somerset^  No.  73. 

Historically  the  first  line  of  the  ballad  is  incorrect.  Benbow 
sailed  first  to  Barbadoes  and  thence  to  Port  Royal  (see  Go 
ii.  368).  As  to  the  details  of  the  engagement,  the  account  of  the 
court-martial  on  Benbow's  captains  is  printed  in  State  Trials, 
xiv.  53S-546.  The  fight  was  August  [9  24,  1702  ;  the  trial, 
October  8-12,  1702.  Benbow  was  wounded  at  three  in  the 
morning  of  August  24, '  his  right  leg  being  broke,  but  commanded 
the  fight  to  be  vigorously  maintained,'  after  which,  says  the 
report,  he  '  lay  wounded  in  a  cradle.' 

Crosbie  in  verse  6  should  be  Kirkby.  Captain  Richard 
Kirkby,  commander  of  the  Defiance,  was  sentenced  to  be  shot. 
In  the  report  it  is  alleged  '  that  during  the  six  days'  engagement 
he  never  encouraged  his  men ;  but  by  his  own  example  of 
dodging  behind  the  mizen-mast,  and  falling  down  upon  the  deck 
on  the  noise  of  shot  .  .  .  the  said  men  were  under  great  dis- 
couragement.' 


35o  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

Salisbury  by  Fowler  a  notfdh^H        *  *  bfroadside  printed  at 

A  chapbLk^rLted'at  ElbulInX" ,  °f  v"  ^  CentUrr' 
in  verses  1-7,  and  addl  vS  V  t  '  H  SUppll?s  ^ome  variants 
have  been  adopted  in  the  tex  espeda°iv  inT  °f  ^  VariantS 
they  supply    the  rhymes    SinT^ 

^vT^r^ti^^  =. The 

probabl/f  corrupt,  nSof  he' naCo?  BenS"^'  "?  m°re 
Breda.  In  the  report  of  he  trW  i,  i.  Be"bow?  flag*,p,  the 
'  Bredah,'  and  the  accentuation  o  •  S,  i  ^Ftd  throughout  the 
for  the  appearance  o-Tk  'No  do'ubf  S^r fc  W°U'd  aCCOUnt 
"Twas  the  Ruby  and  Bredah  '  '  ''ne  or«'naIly  «» 

..     R*  the   tune  see  Chappell,    Old  English  Popular  Music, 

Sam.  Farley  of  Exeter  Lra»'°rd-     A  broadside  printed  by 

p  I53'  TuSoSs-,m  the  Same.  n.,  p.7,,;        • 

in  the  "feSS  UbSry  «ffS&     ^  'h/b°UCe  Colkctio« 
183).  horary  {1  he  Sea-faring  Garland:  Douce  P.  P. 

p  'f*  TThKe  Vcaliant  Admiral.    lb. 

.oilectio'n9-  inThtneDBorufe!aLnaL]brntat!%  &£     Fr0m  the  D°»« 
Clowes  ii.  529.  '  K   ,8^)-     On  the  accident  see 

sew  s?£^^>  jsu  "£ 

.I/^,ed  VooldHdge  ji  T6es.See  ^P6"'  °»*W**  *S**r 

substitutes 'seaman' for 'LiLP'  \  Another  version,  which 
collection  called  r/J  I„l\ .  '  K'lf  found  at  P  'M  of  the 
Ashton^J&i?^^  DfDshed   »    '740,   and  also   in 

a  ojfcL,'2?SJSSS?4 a Sai',or's Life Passes-"  F'°"> 

****»  p.  ^ Xe^t em'itled'^-^t.f "  ™ 


XOTES  ic, 

P.  165.  The  Boatswain's  Whistle.     1'rom  the  colic 
entitled  The  Lark,  1740,  p.  25.     In  this  version  line  4  of  the 
chorus  runs  '  My  boy,  let  us  stir,  let  us  toil,'  but  Smollett's  reading 
has  been  adopted  as  preferable.     I  have  not  be  n  able  to  find  a 
copy  of  the  original  or  the  date  of  its  publication. 

P.  166.  The  Downfall  Of  Piracy.  From  The  Worcester- 
shire Garland'xn  the  British  Museum  (pressmark,  1 1621.  c.  4  [89]). 
Reprinted  by  Ashton,  Real  Sailor  Songs,  p.  7. 

P.  1 68.  Admiral  Cavendish's  Distress  on  Board  the 
Canterbury.  The  Canterbury  was  the  flagship  of  Rear- Admiral 
Philip  Cavendish  from  July  16,  1728,  to  January  24,  1730-31. 
She  sailed  from  Spithead  on  September  iS,  1728,  and  arrived  at 
Gibraltar  on  the  afternoon  of  October  14.  The  log  of  the  Canter- 
bury thus  describes  the  storm.  '  Monday,  September  23. — About 
1 1  this  forenoon  we  were  taken  with  a  violent  squall  out  of  the 
N.-W.,  which  carried  away  our  mizen  mast  and  split  the  main 
topsail.  In  this  squall  we  lost  sight  of  the  Romney.  24. — For 
the  most  part  strong  gales  of  wind  with  violent  squalls.  Yesterday 
in  the  afternoon  we  lowered  down  our  fore  and  main  yards  and 
got  the  sails  reefed  and  furled  and  cut  away  the  main  topsail  yard, 
sail  and  all,  as  it  was  split.  About  nine  last  night  we  lost  our  main- 
mast, and  soon  after  the  foremast,  which  fell  to  windward,  and 
took  away  our  best  bower  anchor  stock.  In  the  fall  of  the  mast 
it  stave  both  barge  and  pinnace  (which  we  hove  overboard)  and 
fell  on  the  outer  part  of  one  of  our  quarterdeck  guns,  which  it 
carried  away  overboard  with  it.  Also  we  likewise  lost  our  two 
lower  stunsail  booms.  In  this  disaster  we  lost  seven  of  our  men, 
and  had  one  man's  thigh  broke,  and  another  very  much  bruised.' 
The  name  of  the  purser  referred  to  in  the  last  verse  was  Walter 
Harris.  There  are  two  later  versions  of  this  ballad  in  the  Madden 
collection.  One  is  called  The  Sailor's  Lamentation,  and  is  dated 
in  ink  '1736,  Dec.  23'  {Slipsongs,  iii.  92,  No.  [661).  The 
other,  printed  later  still,  is  called  A  New  Sea  Song  (Slips* 
264,  No.  1260).  A  version  in  the  editor's  possession,  dated  in 
pencil  '  1728,'  has  been  made  the  basis  of  the  text  adopted,  with 
one  or  two  corrections  supplied  by  the  Madden  versions. 

P.  170.  The  Pacifiek  Fleet.     From  a  folio  pamphlet  in  tl 
Bodleian  Library,  dated  r 729  <  G odw.  Pamph,  1  167  [19]). 

P.  172.  The   English    Sailor's    Resolution.     From    the 
Madden  collection  (Sli/songs,  i.  254,  No.  535). 

P.  174.  England's  Glory  in  the  Declaration  of  War. 
From  a  broadside  in  the  possession  of  the  editor. 

P.  175.  The  Taking  of  the  Princissa.     From  the  Madden 
collection   (Slifsongs,   iii.    14  \    No.   1781).     T:  ginal    prints 

'Orphan,'   instead   of    'Orford,'   and   in  verse   3,   line   2,   'with 
courageous  skill.' 


352  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 

P.  177.  English  Courage  Displayed.  From  the  Madden 
collection  (Slipsongs,  i.  252,  No.  531).  For  the  tune,  see 
Chappell's  Old  English  Popular  Music,  p.  109.  Vernon's 
popularity  is  further  attested  by  two  little  songbooks — Vernon's 
Glory,  containing  15  New  Songs  occasioned  by  the  taking  of 
Porto-Bello  and  Fort  Chagre.  London  :  printed  by  W.  Webb, 
1740,  price  sixpence.  Vemo?ils  Glory,  Part  II.,  sold  by  the  same 
publisher,  contains  not  only  new  songs  on  the  exploits  mentioned, 
but  also  others  on  the  admiral's  birthday.     As,  for  instance : 

'  Freeborn  Britons,  fill  your  glasses, 
Give  this  day  to  generous  mirth  ; 
For  the  circling  bumper  passes 
To  your  Vernon's  happy  birth.' 

P.  179.  Hosier's  GhOSt.  The  version  of  Hosier's  Ghost 
given  on  p.  179  is  the  usual  text,  viz.  that  which  is  reprinted 
in  Percy's  Peliques.  It  no  doubt  represents  the  final  version 
of  Glover's  poem.  A  version  published  in  1740,  'printed  for 
Mr.  Webb,  near  St.  Paul's  (price  sixpence),'  states  that  it  was 
to  be  sung  to  the  tune  of  '  Come  and  Listen  to  my  Ditty.'  It 
supplies  some  various  readings.  Stanza  1,  line  1,  instead  of 
'  our,'  '  my  ' ;  stanza  4,  line  7,  '  yet  to  hear  of  my  undoing  ' ; 
stanza  5,  line  7,  instead  of  '  tale,'  '  fate';  stanza  6,  lines  5-8, 

'  Oh  that,  with  my  wrath  complying, 

I  had  cast  them  in  the  main, 
Then,  no  more  unactive  lying, 

I  had  lowered  the  pride  of  Spain.' 

Stanza  7,  line  4,  instead  01  'hast  achieved,'  'didst  achieve'; 
stanza  7,  line  8,  '  of  these  gallant  men  had  been,' ;  stanza  9  runs 
as  follows : 

'  Unrepining  at  thy  glory, 

Thy  successful  arms  we  hail, 
But  remember  our  sad  story, 

When  to  Britain  back  you  sail ! 
All  your  country's  foes  subduing, 

When  your  Patriot  friends  you  see, 
Think  on  vengeance  for  my  ruin, 
And  for  England  sham'd  in  me.' 

Stanzas  10  and  11  are  omitted,  and  the  form  of  stanza  9  seems 
to  show  that  the  original  version  of  the  ballad  did  not  contain 
these  two. 

For  the  tune,  see  Chappell,  Old  English  Popular  Music, 
ii.  165. 


NOTES  353 

P.  1S1.  Vernon's  Glory.  Roxburgh*  Ballads,  vil  280. 
This  ballad  was  probably  written  in  17  p.  about  May,  before  the 
failure  to  storm  Fort  San  Lazar  on  April  9  had  become  known. 
Vernon's  despatch,  dated  April  1,  had  just  come  to  hand,  giving 
an  account  of  his  forcing  the  passage  through  the  Bocca  Chica, 
and  of  having  the  whole  fleet  inside  the  harbour. '  The  capture 
of  Cartagena  was  a  natural,  but  incorrect,  inference.  See  Clo 
The  Royal  Navy,  iii.  67-75.  Another  contemporary  ballad 
anticipates  the  capture  in  the  same  way — English  Courage  Dis- 
played :  or  Admiral  Vernon's  taking  of  Cartagena,  To  the  tune 
of  Glorious  Charles  of  Sweden  (Madden  collection,  Slipsongs, 
i.  252).     It  is  an  imitation  of  the  ballad  printed  on  p.  177. 

P.  184.  The  Saphirah  in  Triumph.     From  the  Madden 

collection  {Garlands,  iii.  107,  No.  699). 

P.  186.  Admiral  Matthews'  Engagement.     Roxburgh* 

Ballads,  viii.  289 

P.  187.  A  Song-  in  Praise  of  Captain  Hornsby.     From 

The  Pretty  Milkmaids  Garland,  in  the   British  Museum  (pi 
mark,  11621,  c.  2  [59]).     Several  corrections  have  been  made  in 
the  text. 

F.  189.  Captain  Cobb's  Bravery.  From  the  Madden 
collection  (Slipsongs,  i.  119,  No.  25S).  The  text  is  corrupt,  and 
several  corrections  have  been  made. 

P.  190.  The  Princess  Royal's  Escape.  From  the  Madden 
collection  (Slipsongs,  iii.  62,  No.  1597). 

P.  192.  The  Loss  of  the  Victory.    Printed  in  Ashton's 

Real  Sailor  Songs,  p.  42*. 

P.  192.  Disconsolate  Judy's  Lamentation.  From  the 
Madden  collection  (S;  .  i.  223,  Xo.  472). 

lJ.  193.  England's  Glory.  Ashton,  Real  Sailor  So;.  . 
p.  29;  pressmark  of  the  British  Museum  copy,  1876.  e.  7. 
Date  1745;  see  Beatson,  Naval  and  Military  Memoirs,  i.  2S0. 

P.  195.  The  Lucky  Sailor.     Madden  collection  (Slipson 
ii.  156,  No.  1034).     In  verse  6  the  original  gives  'survive,' instead 
of 'revive.'     On  Anson's  action  with  La  Jonquiere,  May  3,  1757, 
see  Clowes,  iii.  125. 

P.  197.  Tit  for  Tat.  From  a  copy  in  the  possession  of  the 
editor,  without  name  or  date.  On  the  action  see  Clowes,  iii.  12;, 
and  Burrows,  Life  of  Hawke,  ed.  1896,  p.  ''7. 

P.  199.  A  New  Song"  on  Admiral  Knowls.  From  the 
Madden    collection    (Slip  ii.    312).     R     r  Admiral  Charles 

Knowles  captured    Port    Louis   in    Hispaniola,    March    8,    174^ 
(Clowes,  iii.  133  . 

P.  200  A  New  Song  Sung  by  Hannah  Snell.  From 
the  Madden  collection  (Slipsongs,  ii.  333.  Xo.  1406).  The 
original  has  a  cut  of  a  woman  in  sailors  dress,  with  long  hair, 

A  A 


354  SOJVGS  AND  BALLADS 

a  cutlass,  brace  of  pistols,  and  boarding  axe.  Hannah  SnelPs 
narrative  of  her  life,  entitled,  The  Female  Soldier,  or  the 
Surprising  Adventures  of  Hannah  Snell,  was  published  in  1750, 
and  reprinted  in  Women  Adventurers,  1892.  Her  life  is  con- 
tained in  the  Dictionary  0/ National  Biography,  liii.  205. 

P.  201.  The  Lighterman's  Prentice.  From  the  Madden 
collection  (Slipsongs,  ii.  137,  No.  993).  In  line  32  'Portsmouth' 
is  a  correction  of  :  Plymouth.' 

P.    203.   Great   Britain's    Resolution   to   Fight   the 

French.  From  the  Madden  collection  (Slipsongs,  i.  87, 
No.  199).  'Plods'  in  verse  8  means  'plaids,'  and  'Charley,' 
Prince  Charles  Edward. 

P.  204.  The  Terrible  Privateer.  From  a  slipsong  in 
the  possession  of  the  editor.  '  Valance,'  in  verse  3,  is  a  popular 
rendering  of  '  Vengeance.'  '  Carteel,'  in  verse  8,  means  the  ship 
employed  to  exchange  prisoners.  '  All  into  a  hell '  is  the  last  line 
in  the  original. 

P.  205.  Captain  Death.  From  a  slipsong  in  the  possession 
of  the  editor,  with  some  corrections  from  Halliwell's  Early 
Naval  Ballads,  p.  120.  Another  version  is  in  Logan's  Pedlar's 
Pack,  p.  31.  For  the  facts  see  A  Faithful  Narrative  of  the 
Cruel  Sufferings  of  Captain  Death  and  his  Crew.  By  Samuel 
Stoaks.  For  the  tune  see  F.  Kidson's  Traditional  Tunes,  Oxford, 
1891,  p.  105. 

P.  206.  A  New  Song".  From  the  Madden  collection 
(Slipsongs,  ii.  270,  No.  1227).  The  following  extracts  will 
explain  the  reference.  '  Captain  Edgcumbe,  with  his  little 
squadron,  had  been  obliged  to  return  from  off  Minorca  on  the 
appearance  of  the  French.  He  had  left  behind  him  Captain 
Carr  Scrope  of  the  Dolphin,  who  commanded  the  naval  detach- 
ment on  shore,  to  act  as  signal  officer  in  the  event  of  the 
appearance  of  a  British  squadron  before  the  island.'  When 
Byng  appeared  he  sent  the  Phcenix,  Chesterfield,  and  Dolphin 
'  to  reconnoitre  the  mouth  of  Mahon  harbour,  to  pick  up  intelli- 
gence, and  to  endeavour  to  send  ashore  a  letter  to  General 
Blakeney  .  .  .  the  enemy's  fleet  appeared  in  the  S.E.,  and  the 
detachment  had  to  be  recalled  '  (Clowes,  iii.  147-8).  In  the 
absence  of  Scrope,  the  Dolphin  was  commanded  by  Benjamin 
Marlow.  Scrope,  who  was  on  shore  all  the  time,  could  not  have 
distinguished  himself  in  the  way  the  ballad  makes  him  do, 
though  he  did  good  service  during  the  siege  (see  Entick, 
History  of  the  Late  War,  ii.  282,  301).  The  ballad  is  a  specimen 
of  the  fictions  circulated  to  increase  the  popular  hatred  of  Byng. 

P.  207.  The  Letter  of  a  Certain  Admiral,  printed  in 
Bungiana  (a  collection  of  poems  and  letters  against  Byng, 
published    in     1756),    p.     17.      It    appeared    in     The   Evening 


NOTES  355 

trtiser  for  July  3,  and  is  a  parody  of  Byng's  despatch  of 
Ma; 

P.  209.  A  Rueful  StOPy.  From  a  broadside  in  the 
possession  of  the  editor.  Said  to  be  printed  'at  the  sign  of  the 
Gibbet,  near  Execution  Dock  ;  and  sold  by  all  well-wishers  to 
Old  England.' 

P.  210.  Admiral  Byng  and  Brave  West.     I'rinted  with 

the  tune  in  W.  Christie's    Traditional  Ballad  Airs,  ii.  261,  1SS1. 
In  the  last  line  '  deen  '  apparently  means  '  done.' 

P.  sxi.  Song'  on  the  Isle  Of  Aix.  From  the  Madden 
collection  (Slipsongs,  ii.  337,  No.  14 18).  Verse  4  seems  to  refer 
to  the  old  ballad  on  Henry  V.'s  conquest  of  France.  '  Recruit 
me  Cheshire  and  Lancashire,  and  Derby  hills  that  are  so  : 
says  that  King  (see  Hales  and  Furnivall,  Bishop  Percy's 
Folio  M.S.  ii.  597). 

P.  212.  Bold  Sawyer.  From  a  slipsong  in  the  possession 
of  the  editor.  Also  in  the  British  Museum  (pressmark 
1 162 1.  1.  1  [190]).  Printed  in  Ashton's  Real  Sailor  Songs,  p.  13. 
In  verse  1  Sawyer = James  Sayer,  captain  of  the  Nassau.  In 
verse  12,  'Maclome  '  is  possibly  a  misprint  for  '  Mahon.'  Goree 
was  taken  December  28,  1758. 

P.  214.  Captain  Barton's  Distress.  From  the  Madden 
collection  (Slipsongs,  i.  118).  For  the  shipwreck,  see  Duncan, 
Mariner's  Chronicle,  iii.  118. 

P.  216.  Gilchrist  and  Hotham's  Bravery.  From  the 
Madden  collection  (Slipsongs,  i.  322,  No.  6S0).  '  And  '  is 
omitted  in  the  title  of  the  original.  The  action  took  place 
March  28,  1759  (Entick,  iv.  299). 

P.  217.  Hawke's  Engagement.  Two  copies  of  this  are 
in  the  British  Museum  (pressmarks  11621.  c.  3  [Si]  and 
11621.  c.  6  [29]).  Printed  in  Ashton's  Real  Sailor  Songs,  p.  14. 
The  original  gives  the  month  as  September  instead  of  Novi  mber. 
The  engagement  was  on  November  20,  not  November  15. 

P.  218.  Neptune's  Resignation.  Printed  in  Halliwell's 
Early  Naval  Ballads,  from  a  broadside,  p.  131.  Said  to  be 
written  by  J.  Wigi 

P.    219.  Hearts  of  Oak.      It  is  agreed  that  this   was  first 
sung   in   the  winter  of   1759.     The  version   printed  here   is   fi 
The  Choice  Spirits  Clmplei.  Whitehaven,  1771.  p.  251,  *ihj  is  also 
to  be  found  in    The  London   Songster,    1773.   p.  Tun 

Chappell's  Old  English  Popular  Music,  ii.  189.     Chappell  entitles 
it  '  Heart  of  Oak,'  and  that  phrase  in  ti  _ular  in  the 

chorus   also.       The  Choice  Spirits  Chaplet  also  gives    it  in   the 
singular. 

P.  220.  Thurot's   Dream.     Printed  in  T.  Crofton  Crokei 
Popular   Songs  Illustrative  of  the   Trench    Invasions    of  Ireland, 

A   A   2 


1 


56  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 


published  by  the  Percy  Society,  pt.  ii.  p.  17.  Croker  obtained 
it  from  Mr.  Mac  Skimin,  author  of  a  History  of  Carrie kfergus, 
who  got  it  from  oral  recitation.  In  verse  3,  1.  2  there  is  a  varia 
lectio  '  That  a  spirit  came  unto  hirn.'  A  printed  version  of  the 
ballad  entitled  Thurofs  Defeat  is  in  the  Garlands  in  the  British 
Museum  (pressmark,  11621.  a.  2  [29]).  It  is  excessively  corrupt. 
Croker  also  prints  another  ballad  called  The  Siege  of  Carrickfergus, 
printed  in  1801,  which  barely  mentions  Thurot's  fight  with  Elliot. 

P.  222.  A  New  Song"  on  Captain  OBrian.  Original  in 
Captain  O 'Brian's  Garland  in  the  British  Museum  (pressmark, 
11621.  c.  5  [15]).     On  the  action  described  see  Charnock,  v.  410. 

P.  223.  A  New  Song-  on  the  Taking  of  Havannah. 
Printed  in  Ashton's  Real  Sailor  Songs,  p.  15*.  Original  in  a 
chapbook  in  the  British  Museum  called  The  Havannah 's  Garland 
(pressmark,  11 621.  c.  5  [14]).  The  names  of  the  Spanish  com- 
manders have  been  corrected. 

P.  225.  Lord  Anson  and  Hawke.  Printed  in  Ashton's 
Real  Sailor  Songs,  p.  94.  Original  in  Lord  Anson's  Garland  in 
the  British  Museum  (11621.  c.  5  [34]).  The  original  gives 
the  title  '  Lords  Anson  and  Hawke.'  As  Hawke  was  not  made 
a  peer  till  1776,  this  would  lead  to  the  conclusion  that  the  ballad 
was  written  about  1779,  and,  if  so,  it  should  have  been  placed 
later  in  the  volume.  It  is  also  possible  that  a  single  ship  may 
have  borne  the  double  name.  On  the  other  hand,  the  Anson  and 
Hawke  privateers  were  cruising  together  about  1757. 

P.  226.  A  New  Song-  on  the  Blandford.  From  the  Madden 
collection  {Slipsongs,  ii.  316,  No.  1373). 

P.  227.  The  Sailors'  Dialogue.  From  a  broadside  in  the 
possession  of  the  editor,  printed  by  Fowler  of  Salisbury. 

P.  228.  Distressed  Men-of-War.  From  a  broadside  in 
the  possession  of  the  editor,  printed  by  J.  Davenport,  6  George's 
Court,  St.  John's  Lane,  West  Smitnfield. 

P.  230.  The  Sailor's  Complaint.  From  the  Madden  col- 
lection (Slipsongs,  iii.  87,  No.  1649).  In  verse  3,  '  to  a  navy 
officer'  is  possibly  a  misprint  for  'to  the  Navy  Office.' 

P.  231.  The  Sailor's  Garland,  or  the  Ticket  Buyer's 
Lamentation.  From  a  broadside  in  the  possession  of  the 
editor,  without  date  or  printer's  name. 

r.  2^2-  The  Sailor's  Complaint,  or  the  True  Character 
Of  the  Purser  of  a  Ship.  From  the  Douce  collection  (Douce 
Ballads,  iii.  85).  A  broadside  'printed  for  W.  O.,  and  are  to  be 
sold  by  the  Booksellers  of  Pye-corner  and  London-bridge  ' 

P.  234.  The  Sailor's  Resolution  to  Fig-ht  the  Spaniards. 
From  the  Madden  collection  (Slipsongs,  iii.  93,  No.  1663). 

P.  235.  Jack  Tar.  From  the  Douce  collection  ;  a  garland 
entitled  Tibbie  Fowler  (Douce,  S.  370). 


NOTES  35; 

P.  236.  The  Jolly  Sailor's  True  Description  of  a  Man- 
of-War.     From  the  Douce  collection  (Doul 
A  broadside  printed  and  >old   in   Aldermary  Churchyard,    I 
Lane,  London. 

P.    239.    New   Sea   Song\     From    the    Madden   colle. 
{Country  Printers,  i.   J5S  icrso).      In   line   5   the  original  r< 
'  life,'  and  in  line  30  '  roar." 

P.  240.  The  Humours  of  the  Royal  Billy.     Printed  by 

Ashton,  Real  Sailor  Songs,  p.  93*  (British  Museum,  pressmark 
1 162 1.  k.  5  [159]).  Probably  belongs  to  the  early  part  of  the 
nineteenth  century  rather  than  to  the  beginning  of  George  lll.'s 
reign. 

P.  243.  The  Dolphin's  Return.     From  the  Madden  collec- 
tion (Slipsongs,  i.   230,  No.   4S5).     On  the  v<  see  Cl< 
iv.    119.     Samuel    Wallis    commanded   the    Dolphin  and  Philip 
Carteret  the  Swallow.    The  Dolphin  arrived  at  Plymouth  May  20, 
1768  ;  the  Swallow  did  not  return  till  March  1769. 

P.  244.  The  Brags  of  Washington.  From  the  Madden 
collection  (Sli/>songs,  i.  82,  No.  181). 

P.   245.    On  the  Late  Engagement  in  Charlestown 
River.    Ashton's  J?ea/ Sailor  Songs,  p.  15.     From  Tl: 
Garland  in  the  British  Mu-eum  (pressmark   1x621.  c.  1  [7]).      In 
verse    5    the   original  reads   'displayed.'      On    the   attack   upon 
Charleston,  June  2S,  1776,  see  Clowes,  iii.  372. 

P.  246.  Sullivan's  Island.  From  Frank  Moore's  Songs  and 
Ballads  of  the  American  Revolution,  1856,  p.  135.  Sir  Peter  is 
Commodore  Sir  Peter  Parker,  to  whom  the  American  satirist 
attributed  this  '  war-song.' 

P.  247.  The  Cruisers.  Roxlurghe  Ballads,  viii.  }2^.  Said 
to  be   'written  by  Frederick  Pilon,  and  sung  in   Th  pool 

Pr: 

V.  24S.  The  Arethusa.  Words  by  Prince  Hoare,  music  by- 
Shield,  in  the  opera  of  The  Lock  and  Rev.  In  a  some 
versions  substitute  '  old  Keppel '  for  'the  spring  fleet.' 

P.   249.    The  Greenlandmen.      From   Portsmouth  Jacks 

Garland  \n  the  British  Museum  (pressmark  [1261.  C.  2  [5 

2-^2.  Admiral  Keppel  Triumphant.  1  rom  a  slipsong  in 
the  possession  of  the  editor. 

P.   253.    Keppel  and  de  Chartres.    From  the  Madden 

collection  (Slipsongs,  ii.  2-:.  No.  127;!.  The  captain  of  the 
Egmont,  John  Carter  Allen,  is  called  Adieu,  Allech,  or  Allen  in 
the  original,  and  in  the  last  line  of  stanza  7  it  reads  '  v.  him 

a  broadside,  which  put  their  heart  in  fear.' 

P.  255.  A  New  Song  in  Praise  of  Admiral  Keppel's  Flen . 
From  a  slipsong  in  the  possession  of  the  editor.  Jack  the 
Painter  was   the  nickname  of  an  incendiary  hanged  March   10, 


358  SOJVGS  AND  BALLADS 

1777,  for  attempting  to  set  fire  to  the  dockyards  at  Portsmouth, 
Plymouth,  and  Bristol.  See  Lord  Mahon's  History  of  England, 
ed.  1858,  pp.  141-145. 

P.  255.  Admiral  Keppel  Triumphant.  Roxburghe Ballads, 
viii.  326.  From  Dr.  Burney's  collection  of  English  songs  in 
the  British  Museum,  ix.  no.  Words  and  music  by  J.  Timms, 
of  Dartford,  published  about  February  1779  after  Keppel's 
acquittal. 

P.  257.  Keppel  for  Ever.  Roxburghe  Ballads,  viii.  325. 
'Sir  Hugh  '  is  printed  'Sir  You,'  in  the  original.  'Twitcher' 
means  Lord  Sandwich. 

P.  258.  A  New  Song  on  Admiral  Barrington.  From. 
the  Madden  collection  (Slipsongs,  ii.  311,  No.  1364).  On  the 
battle,  July  6,  1779,  see  Clowes  iv.  434. 

P.  259.  Paul  Jones.  There  are  many  versions  of  this 
ballad.  One  is  printed  in  Roxburghe  Ballads,  viii.  332  (with 
four  others).  A  more  correct  version  was  printed  by  Such, 
Forth,  and  other  country  printers.  The  version  given  in  the 
text  is  a  composite  one  put  together  from  these  different 
sources  by  the  editor. 

P.  260.  Captain  Farmer.  From  the  Madden  collection 
(London  Printers,  ii.  36).  On  Tyrrell  and  Cornwall  see  Clowes 
iii.  300,  and  Charnock  iv.  131. 

P.  261.  The  Bold  Blades  of  Old  England.     From  the 

Madden  collection  (Slipsongs,  i.  73,  No.  164). 

P.  262.  The  Royal  Sailor.  From  a  song-book  called 
The  Vocal  Companion,  published  at  Preston,  in  the  Bodleian 
Library  (pressmark  2802.  e.  1).  In  verse  6  'coral- red'  is  an 
emendation  for  '  coral-clad.'  The  Royal  Sailor  is  also  printed  in 
The  New  Vocal  Enchantress,  1789,  p.  180. 

P.  263.  Hood's  Conquest  over  the  Count  de  Grasse. 

From  the  Madden  collection  (Slipsongs,  ii.  34,  and  also 
Garlands,  i.  1.) 

P.  265.  The  Loss  of  the  Centaur.  Ashton,  Real  Sailor 
Songs,  p.  40.  See  Clowes  iv.  88,  and  Duncan,  The  Mariner's 
Chronicle,  i.  191. 

P.  266.  The  Robin  Hood.  From  the  Madden  collection 
(Slipsongs,  ii.  265).  It  has  proved  impossible  to  identify  either 
the  Robin  Hood  or  her  captain. 

P.  267.  Nymphe  and  Cleopatra.  From  the  Madden 
collection  (Slipsongs,  ii.  315,  No.  1371).  The  statement  of  the 
ballad  as  to  the  armament  of  the  two  frigates  is  inaccurate,  as 
such  statements  frequently  are  in  songs.  The  Nymphe  had  on 
her  main-deck  twenty-six  12-pounders,  the  Cleopatre,  twenty- 
eight;  the  Nymphe  had  eight  carronades,  24-pounders,  the 
Cleopatre  four  36-pounders.     Their  force  was  practically  equal. 


P.  268.  The  Downfall  of  the  French  Fleet.  the 

Madden  collection  (S  ,  ii.  31  ,; 

r.  j;  1.  A  New  Sea  Song*.  Bodleian  Library  'pressmark 
2803.  f.  4). 

P.  274.  The   Blanche  Frigate.     A  composite  text   put 

together  from  three  versions  in  the  editor's  possession,  printed 
by  Pitts,  Keys,  and  Ferraby,  and  from  one  in  the  Madden  collec- 
tion (Country  Printers,  i.  4SA).      The  latter  is  the  earliest  and 

.    but  some    readings    have    been    adopted  from  the  oti 
and  there  are  several  conjectural  emendations.      An  alternative 
title  is  The  Tars  of  the  Blanche. 

P.  276.  The  Amazon  Frigate.  From  a  slipsong  in  the 
possession  of  the  editor,  printed  by  J.  Pitts.  On  the  action  see 
James's  Naval  History,  ii.  12;  on  the  wreck  of  the  I  >roits 
de  l'Homme  see  Duncan,  Mariner's  Chronicle,  ii.  300. 

P.  277.  A  New  Song  (The  Seventeen  Bright  Stars). 
Record  Office,  Admiralty,  Secretary.  In  Letters  cxi.  Correspondence 
of  Bridport  and  Others,  August  1798. 

P.  279.  The  Genius  of  Britain.  From  the  Madden 
collection  (Slipsongs,  i.  318). 

P.  280.  British  Tars  Rewarded.  From  the  Madden 
collection  (Slipsongs,  i.  96,  No.  316). 

P.  282.  A  New  Song  on  Parker.    Printed  by  Masefield, 

A  Sailor's  Gar  la  fid,  p.  121. 

P.  282.  The  Death  of  Parker.    Printed  by  \v.  H.  L< 
A  Pedlar's  Pack,  p.  62.     Other  versions  with  variants  are  in  the 
possession  of  the  editor. 

P.  283.  A  New  Song  in  Praise  of  Admiral  Duncan. 
From  the  Madden  collection  (Country  Printers,  i.  50). 

P.  2S5.  A   New  Song  on   the   Engagement   between 
the  Mars  and    La    HerCUle.       From   the  Madden  colleen 
(Slipsongs,  ii.  318,  No.  1378). 

P.  286.  Verses  Written  on  Board  the  Astrcea. 
Extracted  from  the  Memoirs  of  Jam  Hardy  Vauxy  2nd  edition, 
London  1827,  p.  57.  Stanza  5,  1.  5  "my  poor  half-pint.'  Half 
a  pint  of  rum  (or  arrack  in  India)  was  the  ration  till  abou 
Officers,  and  apparently  the  midshipmen,  got  it  in  bottles.  To 
the  men,   since  Vernon's  time,   it  was  served  out  vice 

a  day. 

P.  289.    The    Arrow.       Printed   in    Ashton's    A 
Songs,    p.    23.       Original    in    the     British    Museum    (pressmark 
11621.  c.  6  [1]). 

P.    290.    Copenhagen.      Printed    in    Laughtoi 

Memorial,  p.  196,  and  in  Beattie's  Life  of  T.  C 

P.  295.   Action   off  Copenhagen.      From   the    Mao 
collection  (London  Printers,  ii.  7).     In  the  original  the  first  line 


36o  SONGS  ANfU  BALLADS 

of  the  last  verse  runs,  '  Now,  my  brave  boys,  we  have  beaten  the 
Danes,'  and  there  is  another  verse  beginning,  '  Now  to  conclude 
and  to  finish  my  tale.' 

P.  296.  A  New  Song1  on  Lord  Nelson's  Victory.  Printed 
in  Ashton's  Real  Sailor  Songs,  p.  16.  Original  in  the  British 
Museum  (pressmark  1077.  g.  47  [18] — a  chapbook  entitled 
Nelson's  Wreath). , 

P.  297.  A  New  Song-  composed  by  the  Wounded  Tars 

at  the  Siege  Of  Boulogne.  Versions  of  this,  entitled  The 
Battle  of  Boulogne,  were  printed  by  Catnach  and  Birt,  and  are 
reprinted  by  Ashton,  Real  Sailor  Songs,  p.  17.  The  version  in 
the  text  is  from  a  chapbook  in  the  British  Museum  (pressmark 
1076.  1.  2  [45]). 

P.  298.  France  Covered  with  Glory.  From  Haslewood's 
collection  of  songs  in  the  Bodleian. 

P.  300.  La  Loire  Frigate.  From  Fairburn's  Naval  Songster 
for  1806,  p.  34.     The  action  was  June  2,  1805  (Clowes  v.  362). 

P.  301.  Nelson's  Glorious  Victory  at  Trafalgar.    From 

Logan's  Bedlar's  Bach,  1869,  p.  67. 

P.  302.  Death  Of  Nelson.  Versions  of  this,  differing  slightly 
in  the  words,  were  printed  by  Pitts,  Such,  Forth  of  Pocklington, 
and  other  town  and  country  printers  during  the  first  half  of  the 
nineteenth  century.  In  The  Scouring  of  the  White  Horse,  by 
T.  Hughes,  p.  153,  it  is  described  as  sung  in  a  Berkshire  public- 
house  about  1859.  'The  Doctor  walked  over  to  a  lower  table 
and  spoke  to  a  grisly-headed  old  man  in  a  velveteen  coat  and 
waistcoat  and  a  blue  birdseye  neckerchief,  who  seemed  pleased, 
and  drew  his  sleeve  across  his  mouth,  and  cleared  his  throat. 
Then  there  was  a  rapping  on  the  table,  and  the  old  bargee  began 
in  a  rumbling  bass  voice  :  "  Come  all  you  gallant  seamen  as  unites 
a  meeting."  ' 

Four  verses  only  are  given,  the  third  in  our  version  being 
omitted.     The  last  verse  ends  : 

'  And  now  to  conclude,  and  to  finish  these  verses  : 
"  My  time  it  is  come  ;  kiss  me,  Hardy  !  "  he  cried. 
Now  thousands  go  with  you,  and  ten  thousand  blessings 
For  gallant  Lord  Nelson,  in  battle  who  died.' 

The  text  adopted  on  p.  302  is  a  composite  version  from  Such's 
and  Forth's :  the  first  four  lines  are  from  Such's  version,  the 
last  four  from  Forth's,  and  readings  are  taken  from  both.  The 
order  of  the  second  and  third  verses  has  been  changed,  and 
the  two  halves  of  stanza  3  transposed.  Some  verbal  emenda- 
tions have  been  made — e.g.  '  rest  on,'  for  '  resting,'  in  the  last 
line. 


NOTES  361 

P.  394.  Admiral  Strachan's  Victory.     From   Fi      urn's 
ft  1  vol    Songster    for    1S06,    p.    32.      The    action    wa^    fou 
November  4,  1805  (Clowes,  \.  171). 

P.  305.  The  Amethyst  and  Thetis.     From  the  Mad 
collection   {London   Printers,    ii.    227,    No.   45 
v.  427  j  James,  iv.  376.     The  action  took  plan    \  no   11, 

180S. 

P.  306.  The  Successful  Attempt  ...  in  the  Basque 
Roads.  From  the  Madden  collection  {London  Printers,  i.  174). 
See  Clowes,  v.  252-  270;  James,  iv.  395-430. 

P.  307.  Jefferys  the  Seaman.  "  From  the  Madden  - 1 
{London  Printers,  ii.  2).     A  full  account  of  the  ca  iven  by 

James,  Naval  History,  iv.  ^73,  ed.  1S86.     Captain  Warwick  Lake- 
was  dismissed  from    the  Navy,   February    1S10,    for    m.  1 
Robert  Jeffery  on  the  desert  island  of  Sombrero,  in   the  V 
Indies. 

P.  30S.  '  Ye  Parliament  of  England.'    Text  from  < 

Eggleston's  American  War  Ballads  and  Lx>:    .     N   v.  \ 

i.  131.     '  It  was  still  a  favourite  song  in  many  parts  of  the  country 

as  late  as  1859,'  writes  the  editor. 

P.  309.  The  Constitution   and  Guerriere.     Text  from 

Eggleston's  American  War  Ballads  and  Lyrics,  i.  115.  Action 
August  19,  1812.  See  James,  v.  372  j  Clowes,  vi.  34  ;  Mahan, 
Sea  Power :  its  Relation  to  the  War  of  1S12.  i.  330. 

I  have  been  unable  to  discover  the  date  of  the  tune  mentioned 
in  the  title,  nor  is  the  date  of  the  song  itself  certain.  It  is  1 
tended  on  the  American  side  that  this  song  preceded  that  on  the 
Shannon  and  Chesapeake,  which  was  imitated  from  it,  and  on 
the  other  side  that  The  Constitution  and  Guerriere  is  the  later 
of  the  two.  The  evidence  alleged  for  the  priority  of  the  Ai 
song  is,  briefly:  William  Dunlap's   Yankee  Chr  rited 

musical  drama)  was  produced  at  the  Park  Theatre,  in  N«  w  N 
September  9,    181 2    (Ireland's   New    York  Stage,    i.  and 

Mr.  Brander   Matthews  thinks  that  may  be   the  origin  1 
verses.     An  intelligent  veteran  of  the  war  of  1S12,  prea  tit  at  the 
unveiling  of  the  Perry  statue  at  Cleveland  on  Laki    Erie  in   1 
told  the  historian  Lossing  that  he  heard  them  sung  at  the   Park 
Theatre,  in  New  York,  early  in  the  fall  ol  d  that  they 

were  much   heard  at   public  meetings,    in    bar-rooms,   in   work- 
shops, and  in  the  streets  of  the  city  (extract  from  the  / 
of  the  Essex  Institute,  Salem,  Mass.,  vol.  xx.).      1 
are   not  very  conclusive.     The  discovery  of   the  original    s 
The  Landlady  of  France,    which   both   imitate,  would  pro! 
settle  the  matter.     In  the  meantime  it  seems  best  to  print  the 
song  on  the  victory  of  the  Constitution  first,  because  the  incident 
it  celebrates  happened  first. 


362  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 


o 


P.  311.  Shannon  and  Chesapeake.  The  text  is  a  traditional 

version  supplied  by  Sir  J.  K.  Laughton.  There  is  a  broadside 
version,  reprinted  in  Logan's  Pedlar's  Pack,  p.  69,  which  omits 
the  third  verse  and  gives  many  different  readings.  The  most 
important  differences  are  the  following : — In  verse  4,  '  The 
engagement  scarce  begun,  Ere  they  flinched  from  their  guns, 
Which  at  first  they  thought  of  working,  &c.  Then  brave  Broke 
he  drew  his  sword,'  &c.  In  verse  5,  'They  no  sooner  heaid  the 
word,  Ere  they  quickly  jumped  on  board,  And  hauled  down 
the  Yankee  ensign,  &c.  Notwithstanding  all  their  brag,  Now 
the  glorious  British  flag  At  the  Yankee's  mizen  peak  was  quite 
the  dandy  O.'  The  last  verse  begins,  'Here's  a  health,  brave 
Broke,  to  you,  To  your  officers  and  crew,  Who  on  board  the 
Shannon  frigate  fought  so  handy  O  ! '  Another  version  is  to  be 
found  in  the  Harrow  School  Song-book. 

On  the  action  see  James,  vi.  50;  Clowes,  vi.  75;  Mahan, 
Sea  Poiver  in  its  relations  to  the  War  of  181 2,  ii.  131. 

P.  312.  Battle  of  the  Shannon  and  Chesapeake,  Text 
from  two  broadsides,  one  printed  by  Pitts,  the  other  by  Such, 
both  in  the  editor's  collection. 

P.  313.  The  Endymion's  Triumph.  From  the  Madden 
collection  [Garlands,  i.  257).  Action  on  January  15,  1815. 
See  James,  vi.  238  ;  Clowes,  vi.  167  ;  Mahan,  Sea  Power  in  its 
relations  to  the  War  of  '181 2,  ii.  398. 

P.  316.  The  British  Tars.  Text  from  the  editor's  collection. 
Printed  by  J.  Pitts,  6  St.  Andrew  Street,  Seven  Dials.  Line  15 
reads,  '  haughty  Gaul,'  clearly  erroneous. 

P.  316.  The  Fancy  Frigate.  Text  from  British  Museum 
Ballads,  187 1,  f.  32.  Also  printed  by  Ashton,  Real  Sailor 
Songs,  p.  78*. 

Another  version  supplied  by  Sir  J.  K.  Laughton  begins, 
'  There  was  a  fine  frigate,  the  Pique  was  her  name.'  Some  cor- 
rections of  the  printed  text  have  been  adopted  from  the  traditional 
version.  In  line  9  this  traditional  version  gives  '  Mr.  McCleverty,' 
which  was  apparently  the  real  name  of  the  officer  whose  nickname 
is  given  in  the  text.  A  third  and  shorter  version,  called  The  Flash 
Frigate,  is  printed  in  Mr.  Masefield's  Sailor's  Garland,  p.  188. 

P.  319.  The  Saucy  Scylla.  From  the  Madden  collection 
{Country  Printers,  vii.  267). 

P.  320.  The  Vanguard.  From  the  Madden  collection 
(Country  Printers,  vii.  163).  In  the  last  line,  '  Jondy '=Master- 
at-Arms. 

P.  322.  The  Port  Admiral.  By  Captain  Marryat,  printed 
in  Snarleyow,  or  the  Dog-Fiend. 

P.  324.  Oh,  Cruel.  Text  from  a  broadside  printed  by 
Evans,  Long  Lane,  London,  in  the  editor's  collection.     Another 


NOTES  363 

version   is   headed,   'written   and   sung  by  a   gentleman   in   the 
character  of  a  female  ballad-singer  at  Liverpool  Theatre.' 

P.  325.  The  Answer  to  Oh,  Cruel.    Text  ft  <J 

side  in  the  possession  of  the  editor,  printed  by  J.  I'itts,  1 
St.  Andrew  Street,  Seven  Dials. 

P.  326.  The  Female  Lieutenant.  From  a  broadside  in 
the  possession  of  the  editor,  without  printers  name  or  place. 
Another  version,  frequently  found,  makes  the  two  lovers  come 
from  Lichfield,  names  the  lady  Sarah  Gray  or  Sarah  Dunn,  and 
makes  her  marry  the  captain.  In  Douce's  collection  in  the 
Bodleian  Library  there  is  a  much  longer  version,  in  three  parts, 
called  The  Female  Sailor's  Gar/and. 

P.  327.  Billy  Taylor.  Printed  in  Fairburn's  Naval  Songster 
for  1805,  p.  16. 

P.  328.  Cawsand  Bay.  Version  supplied  by  Sir  J.  K. 
Laughton,  who  writes  :  '  It  was  brought  into  vogue  about  fifty 
years  ago  by  a  dear  friend  and  brother  officer  of  mine,  Richard 
Creagh  Saunders,  then  Naval  Instructor  of  the  Marlborough, 
the  flagship  in  the  Mediterranean.  He  was  a  man  of  poetic 
feeling,  with  a  pretty  turn  for  versifying,  and  a  good  know- 
ledge of  music,  though  no  voice  to  speak  of.  The  account  he 
gave  me  of  it  is  this  :  He  was  staying  in  the  country  with  an 
old  messmate — I  don't  think  he  mentioned  the  name — who  one 
day  gave  him  some  old  journals,  scrapbooks,  &c,  to  look 
through  ;  and  among  them  he  found  this  song,  which  he  copied 
there  and  then.  Of  its  origin  there  was  no  trace.  I  more  than 
half  suspect  that  he  was  himself  the  author  of  it.  The  tune 
to  which  he  always  sang  it,  and  which  his  successors  have  of 
course  followed,  is,  he  said,  an  adaptation  of  an  air  in  Don 
Giovanni.' 

Mr.  Saunders  was  born  in  January  1809,  entered  the  navy  in 
1839,  retired   in  1865,  and  died  in  March   1SS6.     There  v 
song  called  Cawsand  Bay,  popular  in  the  thirties,  accordin 
Captain  Glascock.     See  Introduction,  p.  cxiv. 

P.  330.  General  Campbell.    Text  from  British  Museum, 
1876  (d.  217).     On  the  events  mentioned,  see  CI  The 

names  of  the  ships  in  verse  9  should    be   the   Li  lie y  and  the 
Lame.     The  latter  was  commanded  by  Marryat. 

P.  331.  Captain  Ross.  From  the  Madden  collection 
{London  Printers,  vii.  16).     Date  1833.     See  i  , -16. 

P.  333.  Capture  of  St.  Jean  d'Acre.     From  the  Madden 
collection  (Country  Printers,  iii.  5 1 ).     Action  November  3,  1 
See   Clowes,   vi.    31S.     In   verse   6,   line    3,    the   original    reads 
'Curasford'  for  'Carysfort.' 

P.  334.  The  Borneo  Heroes.  Text  in  British  Museum 
(1876.  d.    [810]).     Also   in   the   editor's   collection,    printed   by 


364  SONGS  AND   BALLADS 

Riall    <Sc    Co.,  2  Monmouth   Court,  Seven    Dials.     Boat   action 
in  Malluda  Bay,  August  19,  1845.     See  Clowes,  vi.  329. 

P.  335.  The  Slave  Chase.  From  a  broadside  in  the 
possession  of  the  editor,  printed  by  H.  Such,  177  Union  Street, 
Borough,  S.E. 

P.  336.  The  Russians  Won't  Come  Out.    Text  in  The 

War  Song  Book,  1855,  p.  8. 

P.  337-  Don't  Forget  Your  Old  Shipmate.    By  R.  C. 

Saunders.     Communicated  by  Sir  J.  K.  Laughton. 


INDEX    OF    FIRST    LINES 


All  thinges  we  have   ready  and 

nothing  we  want,  17.  . 

All  ye  noble  British  spirits,  200 

All  you   that  will  be   England  s 

friends,  126 
A.  mighty  great  fleet,  the  like  was 

ne'er  seen,  112 
An  American  frigate,  called  the 

^r/Mn/byname,  259 
A   prentice  I   was  at  Wapping- 

new-stairs,  210 
Arise  arise,  brave  Britons,  jOi 
As  brave    Sir    Rooke   Tholouse 

did  beat,  l$4  .  „, 

A  second  part  I  here  indite,  76 
As  it  fell  on  a  holy-day,  and  upon 

a  holy-tide-a,  16 
As  itt  beffell  in  midsumer-time,  o 
As  near  Porto  Bello  lying,  179. 
As  we  was  sailing  on  the  main, 

Attend  you  and  give  ear  awhile, 
34 


Behold,  upon  the  swelling  wave, 
Billy7  Taylor  was  a  gay   young 

bETJSwI    Matthews    has 

been  on  the  main,  186 
Brave  loyal  hearted  Englishmen, 

attend  whilst  I  declare,  54 
Bright    honor    now    calls— eacn 

true  Briton  attend,  285 


gone 


to   sea, 


Captain   Quiver's 

Captain  Cobb  in  Lynn  doth  dwell, 
a  man  of  worthy  fame,  189 


Cease  now  the  talke  of  wonders 

nothing  rare,  3 
Come,    all     loyal     lovers     thats 

faithful  and  true,  101 
Come,  all   ye   British  hearts  of 

gold,  270  .,        .    . , 

Come,  all  ye  jolly  sailors  bold, 

248  .  , 

Come,   all   ye  jolly   sailors  with 

courage  stout  and  bold,  212 
Come,  all  ye  seamen  bold,  lend 

an  ear,  lend  an  ear,  1 49 
Come,  all  ye  valiant   seamen  of 

courage  stout  and  bold,  ibo 
Come,  all  ye  valiant  seamen  that 

plough  the  raging  main, ,253 
Come,    all     ye     young     fellows, 

attend  to  my  song,  240 
Come,  all  ye  young  seamen  U 

plow  on  the  main,  266 
Come,  all  you  bold  Britons  to  the 

seas  do  belong,  277 
Come,  all  you  brave  boys,  wh- 

courage  is  bold,  131 
Come,    all    you     brave     Britons 

wherever  you  be,  206 
Come,  all  you  bravi  rs  mat 

plough  on  the  main,  1 

Come,  all  you  brave  sailors  that 

sail  on  the  main,  47 
Come,  all  you  brave  seamen  and 

Ismen  likewise,  244 
Come,  all  you 

com  .... 

Come,  all  you  brave  seamen  that 

plows  on  the  mam.  214 
Come,    all    you    British    heroes 

listen  to  what  I  say,  267 
Come,    all    you    Bi  tdora 

bold,  and   listen    to   my   song, 

287 


366 


SOA'GS  AND  BALLADS 


Come,   all    you    British   seamen 

bold,  that  plow  the  raging  main, 

276 
Come,   all    you    gallant    seamen 

that  unite  a  meeting,  302 
Come,  all  you  jolly  sailors  bold, 

172 
Come,  all  you  jolly  sailors  bold, 

the  truth  you  soon  shall  know, 

334 
Come,    all    you    jolly   sailors    of 

courage  stout  and  bold,  258 
Come,  all  you  jolly  sailors  that  to 

the  seas  are  bent,  190 
Come,  all  you  jolly  seamen,  that's 

willing  to  enter,  194 
Come,  all  you  jovial  sailors,  give 

ear  unto  my  song,  263 
Come,  all  you  old  warlike  liners, 

who  boast  of  deeds  of  war,  333 
Come,  all  you  seamen  stout  and 

bold,    and   listen    to  my  song, 

320 
Come,  all  you  thoughtless  young 

men,  a   warning   take  by  me, 

3l6 
Come,  all  you  valiant  British  tars, 

attend  unto  my  theme,  313 
Come,  all  you  valiant  Britons  of 

every  degree,  306 
Come,  all  you  valiant  heroes  that 

sail  upon  the  sea,  305 
Come,  all  you  who  delight  in   a 

frolicksome  song,  319 
Come,   all    you    young    seamen, 

wherever  you  be,  255 
Come,  and  listen  to  my  ditty,  all 

ye  jolly  hearts  of  gold,  162 
Come,  brave  honest  Jack  Tar,  once 

more  will  you  venture  ?  235 
Corne,  cheer  up,  my  lads,  'tis  to 

glory  we  steer,  220 
Come,  join  with  me,  you  Britons 

bold,  203 
Come,  jolly  sailors,  join  with  me, 

Come,  listen  awhile  with  attention, 

331 
Come,    loyal   Britons   all  rejoyce 

with  joyful  acclamations,  177 
Come    pity   me,   young   maidens 

all,  193 


Come,  rouse  up,  my  lads,  let  us 

haste  to  the  main,  261 
Come,  you  jovial  British  fellows, 

184 
Countrie  men  of  England,   who 

live  at  home  with  ease,  40 


Draw  near,   ye   gallant   seamen, 
54 


Each  bold  British  tar,  252 


Fair  Sally  lov'd  a  bonny  sailor, 
163 


Gallants,   you    must  understand, 

.25 
Give  ear,   true    Britons,   to    my 

song,  223 

Give  ear,  ye  sons  of  glory,  209 

God  prosper  long  our  noble  King, 
his  fleet  and  sailors  all,  231 

Good  people  all,  I  pray  attend 
a  most  surprising  story,  298 

Good  people  all,  pray  give  atten- 
tion to  this  fatal  tragedy,  192 

Good  people,  do  but  lend  an  ear, 
140 

Good  people,  give  ear,  I'll  tell  you 
a  story,  170 

Good  people  of  old  England,  come 
listen  unto  me,  245 

Great  Charles,  your  English  sea- 
men upon  our  bended  knee, 
53 


Hark  !  Hark  !   alas  !   what  fatal 

news  is  come?  160 
How  goes  it,  brother  Jack?  227 
How     pleasant    a     sailor's     life 

passes,  164 


I  am  a  jovial  marriner,  our 
calling  is  well  known,  42 

I  am  a  sailor  bold,  and  press'd 
to  serve  the  King,  211 


INDFX    OF  FIRST  LINFS 


I  am  an  undaunted  seaman,  and 

for  King  Charles  I   will  fight, 

61 
I    am   in  a  consternation  at  my 

now  approaching- death,  154 
I    said  unto  brave  West,  'Take 

the  van,  take  the  van,'  210 
I   sing  not  the  battle  (so  fam'd) 

of  Lepanto,  1 10 
I  sing  ye  a  ballad  as   round   me 

ye  stand,  120 
I  wald  noght  spare  for  to  speke, 

wist  I  to  spede,  3 
I  will  not  sing  in  Parker's  praise, 

28] 
In  Cawsand  Bay  lying,  32S 
It  is  of  a  fine  Frigate,  dare  not 

mention  her  name,  316 
It  oft-times  has  been  told,  309 
It    was    in   the    month   of  April, 

upon  the  14th  day,  330 


Joyful    tydings    I    bring;  let    us 
merrily  sing,  125 


,     England,   and   Ireland,  and 
Scotland  rejoyce,  58 
Let  every  loyal  Briton  sing,  199 
Let  every  loyal  soul  rejoyce,  174 
Life  is  chequer'd — toil  and  plea- 
sure, 165 
Listen   awhile   and    I    here   will 

unfold,  95 
Long  the   proud   Spaniards  had 

vanted  to  conquer  us,  2 1 
Lustely,    lustely    lustely,    let    us 
saile  forthe,  17 


Men  may  leve  alle  gamys,  4 

Mi  not  with  mowth  had  menid  to 

make,  1 
Mr.    Cleveland,    I  pray,    to  their 

Lordships  you'll  say,  207 
Muse  will   have  her  song  ;  hark  ! 

she  merrily  sings,  1  5 1 
My  Lords,  with  your  leave,  240 
My  love,  I  come  to  take  my  leave, 

99 
My  name  is  Captain  Kid,  134 


Not    many    moon.  from 

their  silver  .  31 

Now,  noble  b  let   the 

sweet  trumpet  sound, 
Now  of    noble,    hardy    nun    of 

might,  156 


O    noble    England,    fall     doune 

upon  thy  knee,  iS 
Observe  this   true    relation,    and 

listen  unto  me, 
Of  all  the  curst  plagues  that  1 

Fate  did  decree,  233 
Of  late  near  the  Strand,  we  well 

understand,  104 
Of  Nelson  and  the  North,  290 
Of  thee,  great  Slate,  the  god  of 

waxes,  36 

Off  Cape  Finisterre  lay  the  kin 

ship  La  Loire,  300 
Oh  !    cruel  were  my  parents  to 

tear  my  love  from  me,  324 
Oh  !  cruel  were  thy  parents  that 

envied  our  love,  325 
Oh  !    we  sail'd  to  Virginia,  and 

thence  to  Fayal,  1 
Old  Paul's  steeple,  fare  thee  well, 

37 
On  board  the  noble  ./////,  249 
On    board   the    Shann  Lte, 

in    the  merry   month  of    May, 

J 12 

On  the   second   day   of  August, 

eighteen  hundr 
Once    more,  brave  lei 

proclaim,  181 

One  day,  as  I  was  sitting  Still, 

Our  boatswain  iut  for   ; 

bold  British  hi 

Our    goodly   ship    was  loaded 


Rejoyce,  rejoyce, 

boy-, 
Ring    bells 

sad. 
Rin  out  our 

from  I  >o 
Russel    on    the  ng 

Tourville's  mot 


368 


SONGS  AND   BALLADS 


Says  Jack,  '  There  is  very  good 

news,'  228 
Set  every  stitch  of  canvas  to  woo 

the  fresh'ning  breeze,  335 
Sing  we  seamen,  now  and  then, 

27 
Smile,  smile,  Britannia,  smile,  on 

Admiral  Keppel  smile,  257 
Stout  seamen,  come  away,  never 

be  daunted,  97 
Strike  up,  you  lusty  gallants,  with 

musick  and  sound  of  drum,  30 
String  up  your  hearts,  and  tune 

your  throats,  63 


The  Chesapeake  so  bold,  311 
The  foes  of  Old  England,  France, 

Holland,  and  Spain,  262 
The  fourteenth  of  November,  in 

Torbay  as  we  lay,  217 
The  genius  of  Britain  went  hover- 
ing round,  279 
The  George-Aloe  and  the  Sweep- 
stake too,  23 
The  muse  and  the  hero  together 

are  fir'd  (Captain  Death),  205  ; 

(Captain  Farmer),  260 
The  tars  of  Old  England   have 

long  toil'd  in  vain,  280 
The  28th  of  May  the  French  fleet 

hove  in  sight,  268 
The    2 1  st   of    February,   as    I've 

heard  people  say,  220 
The  wat'ry  god,  great  Neptune, 

lay,  218 
The  weather  is  clear,  which  was 

late  overcast,  69 
There  happen'd  of  late  a  terrible 

fray,  72 
Though  with  tears  we  lament  our 

great  Nelson's  demise,  302 
Thursday  in  the  morn,  the  Ides 

of  May,  119 
To  all   you   ladies  now  at  land, 

56 

To  God  alone  let  us  all  glory  give, 
114 

To  tame  the  Dutch,  our  treacher- 
ous foes,  283 

To  your  quarters,  my  lads  ;  we 
are  now  within  shot,  158 


Twas  at  the  landing  place  that's 
just  below  Mount  Wyse,  322 

'Twas  on  the  twenty-eighth  of 
May,  271 


Valiant  Protestant  boys,  117 


Well  may  the  world   against   us 

"T,  133 
We're  the  boys  that  fear  no  noise, 

What  can  we  luckless  sailors  do? 

336 
What   means   this   silence,  sirs  ? 

48 
What  ship,  honest  brother  sailor  ? 

234 

When  first  on  board  of  a  man-of- 
war,  236 

When  in  the  cockpit  all  was  dim, 
286 

When  the  Dartmouth  friggot  lay 
off  the  town,  92 

Who  does  not  extol  our  conquest 
marine?  153 

Why  does   the   poets   abuse   us, 

145 
Will  you  hear  of  a  bloody  battle, 

166 
William    was    a  youthful    lover, 

326 
With  Monmouth  cap,  and  cutlace 

by  my  side,  137 


Ye  bold  British  tars,  who  to  glory 

are  free,  243 
Ye    brave    British    sailors,    true 

sons  of  the  main,  225 
Ye     brave    British     tars,    come, 

attend  to  my  muse,  255 
Ye  gods  above,  protect  a  widow  ! 

282 
Ye  landsmen  all,    I  pray  attend, 

who    live    at    home    at    ease, 

265 
Ye  Parliament  of  England,  you 

Lords  and  Commons  too,  308 
Ye  seamen  who's  a  mind  to  go  in 

pursuit  of  new  adventures,  226 


INDEX   OF  FIRST  LINES 


369 


You  are  welcome  to  London,  dear 

Jack,  230 
You   brave    English    sailors  that 

plow  the  ocean  wide,  175 
You  Britons  bold,  that  never  was 

controul'd,  289 
You   captains    and   commanders 

both  by  land  and  sea,  307 
You    Frenchmen,  don't   boast  of 

your  fighting,  274 
You  gentlemen  of  England  fair, 

113 


You  gentlemen  of  England,  that 

lives  at  home  at  ease,  45 
You   heroes  of  England,  I   pray 

you  attend, 
You  pretty  maids  of  Greenwich, 

of  nigh  and  low  degree,  143 
You  sailors  all  of  courage  bold, 

204 
You  undaunted  sons  of  Britannia, 

lend  an  ear,  295 
You're  welcome,  my  Billy,  to  the 

English  shore,  146 


15  « 


INDEX   OF    PROPER    NAMES 


Aboukir  Bay,  288 

Adelar   (Adelaer),    Kort,  Danish 

admiral,  77 
Aix,  Isle  of,  Ixxix,  21 1,  355 
Albemarle,  George  Monck,  Duke 

of,  xxviii,   xxx,   62-67,    73,  75> 

78,  138 

—  George   Keppel,  3rd   Earl   of, 
lxxxii,  223,  225 

Alderney,  192 

—  Race,  122 
Alexandria,  288 
Alfred,  lxxii 
Algeciras  Bay,  298 

Algiers,    xxii,   xxiii,    xxxviii,    xlii, 

cviii,  29,  31,  32,  88,  344 
Allen,  Captain  John  Carter,  357 
Allin,  Sir  Thomas,  xxix,  xxxi,  xli, 

55,  68,  73,  77 
Almonde,  Admiral    Philips  Van, 

123 
Amboyna,  60 
Amsterdam,  lxv 
Andros,  Sir  Edmund,  xlvi 
Anson,  Admiral  Lord,  lxxv,  195, 

196,  203,  353,  356 
Ape's  Hill,  266 
Armada,    xiv,   xix,    xx,    lxxii,   83, 

110 
Arnold  (pirate),  xvii 

—  Samuel  James,  ci 
Arvvell,  2 

Ashby,    Admiral    Sir   John,    115, 

I23 
Askew,  Jemmy,  1  xxxviii 

Atkins,      Captain,      v.       Ekins, 

Captain  Charles 

Avery,     Captain     Henry,     1,     li, 

131-3,  346,  347 
Ayscue,  Admiral  Sir  George,  xxx 
Azores,  the,  xvi 


Babs  (or  Bobs)  Key,  348 

Badding,  John  3 

Baddison,  Captain  John,  xxxviii- 

xl 
Bahamas,  xliii,  319,  320 
Bajona  {i.e.  Bayona,  in  Galicia), 

xxxviii 
Balchen,  Admiral  Sir  John,  lxxiii, 

lxxvii,  192,  193 
Balthorpe,  John,  xli,  liii,  Ivii 
Baltic,    xc,   xcvi,    cxi,    cxii,   cxiii, 

33b,  345 
Bantry   (Bay),   xliii,  Ixvii,  xcviii, 

138,  278 
Barbadoes,  349 
Barbary,  xxi,  xxii,  xlix,  23,  24,  25, 

27,  29,  212-4,  342 
Barbenoire,  4,  340 
Barber,  Captain,  lxxxvii 
Barcelona,  156,  157 
Barker,  George,  174 
Barney,  Captain,  xciii 
Barrington,  Admiral  Samuel,  xci, 

258,  259,  358 
Barton,    Sir    Andrew,   xiii,   6-15, 

340,  34.1 

—  Captain  Matthew,  lxxxix,  214, 

355 
Basque  Roads,  ci,  306,  307,  361 
Bastimentos,  the,  180 
Bathurst,  Captain  Walter,  cix 
Beachy  Head,  xlv,  lii,  lxvii 
Beard,  John,  lxxx 
Beaufort,  Due  de,  76,  77 
Beaumont,    Rear-admiral    Basil, 

lxv 
Becket,  66 
Bedford,    Francis     Russell,     5th 

Duke  of,  278 

—  John   of  Lancaster,  Duke  of, 
xii 


INDEX   OF  PROPER  NAMES      ^  \ 


Bedford  Street,  139 

Belleisle,  lxxxi 

'  Ben,'  lxii 

Benbow,  Vice-admiral  John,  Ixiii, 

Ixiv,  [48-51,  348   50 
Bengal,  347 
Bergen-op-Zoom,  197 
Bermuda,  315 

Biddle,  Captain  Nicholas,  xciii 
Birkenhead,  Sir  John,  72 -79 
Biscay,   Bay  of,  lxxvii,   168,    169, 

226 
Blake,     Admiral     Robert,    xxvii, 

xxviii,  liii,  48-52,  83,  no,  343 
Blakeney,       General       William, 

lxxviii,  206,  207,  209,  354 
Blankebergh       (i.e.       Blancken- 

berghe\  2,  339 
Blass,    Don    (i.e.    Admiral    Don 

Bias  de  Leso),  182,  183 
Bocachica  (Cartagena),  182,  353 
Bohide,  16 
Bomarsund,  cxi 
Bompart,       Commodore       Jean 

Baptiste,  xcviii 
Bordeaux,  xxxi,  7,  9 
Borneo,  cxiii,  334,  335,  363 
Boron  Head,  251 
Boscawen,      Admiral       Edward, 

lxxvii,    lxxix,    lxxx,    lxxxi,  lxxv, 

219,  228 
Boston,  U.S.A.,  li,  312 
Boulogne,  xcvi,  297,  360 
Bourne,  Rear-admiral  Nehemiah, 

liii 
Bover,  Captain,  civ 
'  Bowling,    Lieutenant    Thomas,' 

lxix,  lxx 
Bowyer,  Captain  George,  270 
Boyce,  Dr.  William,  220 
Boys,  Commodore  William,  lxxx 
Braham,  John,  c 
Brandaris,  79 
Irest,    108,    125,    227,    253,    285, 

307 
'retayne  (Brittany).  4 
ridport,        Alexander        Hood, 
Viscount,  xcviii,  277,  279,  280 

•stol,  xxiii,  lx,  lxxxvii,  4,  34,  35, 

7,  226,  227,  343,  358 
e,     Captain     Philip     Bowes 
:re,  311-13,  362 


Brown,  Commodore  Charles,  177, 

178 
Bruges,  1 

Buckingham,  e     Villiers, 

1st  Duke  of,  reek  .  ociv 

2nd  Duke  of,  348 

Bugia,  xlii 

Burgess,  Capt.  Richard  Rundle, 
285 

Burnet,  Gilbert,  Bishop  of  Salis- 
bury, xlix,  lii 

Byng,  Admiral  John,  x,  lxxvii, 
lxxviii,  lxxxvi,  2of>    11,  257,  354, 

355 
Byron,  Vice-admiral  John,  xci 


Cabot,  Sebastian,  xv 

Cadiz,    viii,    xxiii,    xxviii,    lxii,    c, 

-'    ^3,  35,  55,  83,84,  126,  298, 

299,  300,  3°i 
Cagent  (/.*.  Cadzant),  3,  339 
Calais,  xlix,  19,  197 
Calcutta,  330 
Cales,  v.  Cadiz 
Campbell,  Thomas,  xcvi 
Campbell,  General  Sir  Archibald, 

cxiii,  330,  331,  363 
Camperdown,  xciv 
Canaries,  51,  195 
Candia,  26 
Cape  Boner  (i.e.  Bon,  in  Tunis), 

126 

—  Sables,  xlv 

—  St.  Mary,  c 

—  St    Vincent,  xci,  xciv 
Carew,  Richard,  342 
Carlton,  244 
Carolina,  167,  173 

Carr,     Capt.     (i.e.     Capt.     Carr 

Scrope),  207,  354 
1  —  Richard,'  326 
'—  William,'  327 
Carrickfergus,  lxxxi,  xc,  220,  221, 

35'' 
Cartagena,  xv,  l.xxiv,  lxxv,   181-4, 

353 
Carter,     Rear-admiral     Richard, 

xlvii,  115.  123 
Carteret,  Captain  Philip,  357 
Carthagena,  v.  Cartagena 
Caskets,  the,  lxxvii, 

BBS 


372 


SONGS  AND  BALLADS 


Cat-Down,  132 
Catnach,  James,  cviii 
Cator  Bay,  175 

Cavendish,  Admiral  Philip,  lxxvi, 
168,169,351 

—  Thomas,  xviii 

Cawsand  Bay,  cv,  cxiv.  328,  363 

Cayenne,  xxxvii 

Cecil,  Sir  Edward,  xxiii 

Chamier,  Captain  Frederick,  cvii 

Champness,  220 

Channel,   the  English,  xxv,  xlvi, 

xlix,  xc,  202,  248,  253,  259,  279 
Charleston,  lxxxix,  245,  357 
Chartres,    Philippe-Joseph,    Due 

de,  254,  357 
Chateau-Renault,       Vice-admiral 

Louis-Francois   de    Rousselet, 

Comte  de,  xlv,  152 
Chatham,  xxxiv 
Chaucer,  Geoffrey,  xxi 
Cherbourg  Bay,  122 
Cherry,  Andrew,  lxxvi 
Chien,  v.  Cayenne 
Chilver,  Captain,  89 
Churchill,  Captain,  liii 
Churchyard,  Thomas,  xv 
Clarence,  William,  Duke  of,  278  ; 

v.  also  William,  Prince 
Clark,  Captain  Ben,  xlvi 
Clarke,  Tom,  xvii 
Cleveland,  207 
Clinton  (pirate),  xvii 

—  Sir  Henry,  244,  247 

—  Sir  William,  2 
Cobb,  Captain,  lxxvi,  189 
Cochrane,  v.  Dundonald 
Codrington,  Sir  Edward,  ex 
Collingwood,  Cuthbert,    Lord,  c, 

302,  304 

Colpoys,  Admiral  Sir  John,  xcviii, 
278 

Condon,  David,  xlvi 

Conflans,  Vice-admiral  the  Mar- 
quis de,  Ixxix,  219 

Congreve,  William,  Ixii 

Cook,  Captain  James,  332 

—  George,  x,  266 
Cooke,  T.  P.,  cvii 
Cooper,  Fenimore,  cvii 
Copenhagen,    xevi,    290,    295-7, 

359,  360 


Corjack,  v.  Croisic 
Corona,  v.  Corunna 
Cornwall,  Captain  James,  261 
Cornwallis,  Admiral  Sir  William, 

xcviii 
Corunna,  1,  131,  132,  347 
Covel,  Dr.  John,  Ivii,  lviii 
Covent  Garden,  lxxx 
Craft,  James,  184 
Croisic  Bay,  218 
Cronstadt,  336 
Crosbie,      Captain,      v.      Kirby, 

Captain 
Crosfield,  Robert,  liii 
Cross,  Jondy,  321 
Croycraft,  Mr.,  320 
Cuba,  335 

Cullifoord,  Captain,  136,  348 
Cumberland,      George     Clifford, 

3rd  Earl  of,  xx,  31 


Daborne,  Robert,  xii 

Dacres,  Captain  James  Richard, 

309^11 
Dana,  R.  H.,  cxv 
Danby,  Peregrine  Osborne,  Earl 

of,  lxiv,  123 
Dansekar,  xxi,  xxii,  27-29,  342 
Darby,  Rear-admiral  George,  244 
Dardanelles,  the,  cxii 
Dartmouth,  lxxvi 
Davenant,  Sir  William,  lxi 
Dawson,  Joseph,  347 
Deane,  Admiral   Richard,   xxvii, 

xxviii,  liii 
Death,  Captain,  lix,  lxxxvi,  lxxxvii, 

205,  206,  354 
Decatur,    Commodore    Stephen, 

308,  314,  315 
Defoe,  Daniel,  1 
Delavall,  Vice-admiral  Sir  Ralph, 

115,  118,  123 
Deloney,  Thomas,  viii,  xix,  18-23, 

342 
Denbigh,  v.  Danby 
Denham,  Sir  John,  xxxiii,  xxxiv 
Dennis,  John,  307 
Deptford,  lx 
De  Ruyter,  Michael,  xxix,  xxxiv, 

61,  65,  67,  69,  71,  73,  76,  77, 

82 


INDEX   OF  PROPER  NAMES      S75 


De  Winter,  Vice-admiral  J.   \\\, 

2S4 
De  Witt,  John,  75 

Captain  l'asqual,  83-86 

Dibdin,  Charles,  xi,  lxix,  cii,  cvi, 

300 
Dickson,  226 

Digby,  Captain  Francis,  xxxv 
—  Rear-admiral  Robert,  xcii,  262, 

263 
Dominica,  lxxxi,  263 
Donne,  Dr.  John,  xvi 
Dorrel,  Captain  Robert,  1 10 
Dorset,    Charles    Sackville,     6th 

Earl  of,  xxx,  56,  58,  343 
Dory,  John,  16,  342 
Douglas,  Captain  Andrew,  xxxiv 
Dover,  53,  162,  197 
Downs,    the,  xxv,    xxviii,  hi,  38, 

139,  I9?i  !95 
Drake,  Sir  Francis,  xiv,  xv,  xvi, 

51,  no 

Drayton,  Michael,  xvi 

Dryden,  John,  xxxii,  xxxv,  xlii 

Dublin  Bay,  xlv,  106 

Ducasse,  M.  J.,  lxiii 

Duchy  Lane,  105 

Du  Guay,  lxxvii 

Duncan,  Admiral,  xciv,  xcv,  xcvi, 

283-5.  359 
Dundas,  Henry,  278,  279 

Dundonald,  Thomas  Cochrane, 
10th  Earl  of,  ci,  306,  334,  335 

Dungeness,  191 

Dunkirk,  xx,  xlvii,  xlix,  125 

Dunlap,  William,  361 

'  Dunn,  Sarah,'  359 

Dunton,  John,  xxiii 

Dunwich,  82 

Durell,  Captain  Thomas,  175,  176 

D'Urfey,  Tom,  lviii,  lxii,  346 

Dursley,  James  Berkeley,  Vis- 
count, lxiv 


Easton  Ness,  82 
Edgcumbe,  Captain,  354 
Edinburgh,  xc,  251 
Ekins,  Captain  Charles,  cviii,  cix 
Elbe,  lvi 

Elliot,  Captain  John,    lxxxi,  221, 
356 


Ellis,  Thomas,  xv 

Elsinore,  294,  295 

Emery,  M  r.,  3:7 

English,  Rev.  Robert,  lxxx 

Essex,     Robert    Devereux,    2nd 

Earl  of,  xvi,  xix,  21   23,  31,  343 
—  Robert     Devereux,     3rd     Earl 

of,  xix 
Estain-,   Vice-admiral  Comte  d', 

xci,  358 
Etenduere,  Admiral  des  Herbiers 

de  P,  lxxv 
Evertson     ^Evertsen),     Comelis, 

33 
.:ution  Dock,  h,  133,  137,  1  ^  5, 

347,  355 
Exmouth,  Edward   l'eliew,   Lord, 
cviii,  cix 


Fair  Isle,  249 
Falmouth,  276 
Fanshaw,  Mr.,  31 5 
Fanshawe,  Sir  Richard,  343 
Farmer,    Captain    George,    xcii, 

260,  35S 
Faulkner     (Faulknor),     Captain 

Robert,  275 
Faversham,  25 
Fayal,  148 

Finistere  Cape,  276,  277,  300,  304 
Fishes'  Nose,  1 13 
Fitzball,  Edward,  cvii 
Fitzgefirey,  Charles,  xv 
P'itzherbert,      Captain     Thomas, 

258,  259 
Flanders,  1,  2,  7 
Fletcher,  John,  lix,  342 
Florida,  xviii 
Folkestone,  [9] 
'  Ford,  I  leiena,'  329 
Fort  Chagre,  352 

—  Moro,  223,  224 

—  St.  Philip,  Ixxviii,  207 

—  San  Jose,  lxxiv 

San  Lazar,  1  <  cv,  353 

—  San  Luis,  lxxiv 
Fowey,  341 
Fowlis,  Thomas,  1  22 
Franklin,  Sir  John,  cxiii,  cxiv 

—  Lady,  cxiv 
'  Freeman,'  lxi 


374 


SONGS  AND   BALLADS 


Freneau,  Philip,  xciii 
Frobisher,  Martin,  xv 
Froissart,  Jean,  xi 


Gambier,  James,  Lord,  ci 
Gardiner    {i.e.    Gardner),    Rear- 
admiral  Alan,  26S 
Garrick,  David,  lxxx,  220 
Garson,  Mr.,  315 
Gaskets,  v.  Caskets 
Gay,  Thomas,  xi,  lxix,  Ixxi 
George,  Captain  John,  xlv,  xlv 
Georgia,  173 
Gibraltar,  xlvii,  xci,  168,  173,  209, 

215,  266,  351 

—  Straits  of,  xx,  32,  256,  299 
Gibson,  Captain  Charles,  1 
Gilchrist,    Captain   James,  lxxxi, 

216,  217,  355 
Gilray,  James,  lxxxv 
Glascock,  Captain  William,  cvii, 

cxiv,  cxv,  363 
Glasgow,  251 
Gloucester,     Hugh     de     Audley, 

Earl  of,  2,  339 
Glover,  Richard,  x,  Ixxii,  179,  352 
Goodman's  Fields,  200 
Goodwin  Sands,  x,  lxxvii,  190,  191 
Goree,  lxxix,  57,  212-14,  257>  355 
Gosport,  201 

—  Hospital,  160 
Gourden,  12 
'Grady,  Henry,'  329 

Grafton,      Henry      Fitzroy,      1st 

Duke  of,  no 
Graham,  Sir  James,  cxi 
Grantham,  38 
Granville,  xlix 
Grasse,  Comte  de,  xcii,  263,  264, 

358 
Graves,  Rear-admiral  Sir  Thos., 

295,  296 
Gravesend,  lx 
Gray,  James,  v.  Snell,  Hannah 

—  '  Sarah,'  359 
Greene,  Maurice,  lxix,  Ixx 
Greenland,  232,  249,  252 
Green  way,  Thomas,  1,  2 
Greenwich,  xviii,  xxxviii,  143,  144 

—  Hospital,  lxxi 
Greepe,  Thomas,  xv 


Grenada,  lxxiii,  x:i 

Grenville,    Grenfillde,   Greynvile, 

Grinvile,  Sir  Richard,  xv 
Groyne,  the,  v.  Corunna 
Guadeloupe,  lxxxi,  223 
Guernsey,  262 
Guinea,  xxix,  55,  347 
Gulf  Stream,  315 
Gunfleet,  the,  190,  191 

Haddock,      Admiral      Nicholas, 

lxviii,  lxxiii,  173,  174 
Hakluyt,  Richard,  xii,  xiv 
Halifax,  George  Savile,  Marquis 

of,  lii 
Halifax  (Nova  Scotia),  313 
Hallen  River,  289 

—  Town,  290 
Hamilton,  James,  12 
Hamoaze,  the,  113 
Hannay,  James,  ex 
Hardy,  Sir  Thomas,  151 

—  Sir  Thomas  Masterman,  302, 
360 

Hardyng,  John,  xii 
Harfleur,  xii 

Harman,  Sir  John,  xxxvi,  xii,  xlii, 
liv 

—  Captain  Thomas,  xii,  xlii,  xliii, 
83-86 

Harris,  Walter,  351 
Harrison,  George,  xxviii,  52 
Harvey    (i.e.     Hervey),    Captain 
Augustus  John,  224 

—  Captain  John,  269 
Harwich,  xxxii,  lxviii,  69,  70 
Hastings,  Captain  Anthony,  124 
Havana,  lxxxi i,  223,  257  356 
Hawke,     Edward,     Lord,     lxxv, 

lxxvii,  lxxix,  lxxx,  lxxxi,  lxxxv, 
197,  202,  203,  217-19,  227,  228, 

353,  356 
Hawkins,  Captain  Richard,  347 

—  Sir  Richard,  xiv,  xv 
Heath,  Thomas,  122 
Helsingfors,  336 

Herbert,  Arthur,  v.  Torrington 
Heywood,  Thomas,  xxv 
Hispaniola,  lxxv,  199,  353 
Hoare,  Prince,  357 
Hobson      (i.e.       Hopsonn),      Sir 
Thomas,  152 


INDEX   OF  PROPER  NAMES      375 


Hodges,  William,  liii 

Hodgson,    General     Studholme, 

lxxxi 
Holmes,   Captain   Charles,   lxxv, 

185 

—  Sir  Robert,  xxxi,  58,  59,  62,  68, 
73,  77,  79,  80,  81 

Home,  285 

Hood,  Alexander,  see  Bridport 

—  Captain  Alexander,  286 

—  Samuel,  Viscount  Hood,  xciv, 
xcviii,  263,  264,  358 

Hope,  Captain  Henry,  314,  315 
Hornby     or    Hornsby,     Captain 

Richard,  lxxvi,  187-9,  353 
Horseley,  Captain  Gilbert,  xvii 
Horsley,  William,  8,  12,  13,  15 
Hosier,      Vice-admiral     Francis, 

lxix,  lxxii,  lxxiv,  179,  180,  352 
Hotham,  Captain  William,  lxxxi, 

216,  217,  355 
Howard,  Lord  Charles,  xiii,  7-15, 

—  Sir  Edward,  xiii,  340,  341 

—  Sir  Philip,  79,  80 

Howe,  General  Sir  William,  247 

—  Richard,  Earl,  ix.  lxxxv,  xciv, 
xcvi,  xcviii,  268-70,  272-4,  278, 
279 

Hughes,  Thomas,  360 

Hull,  29 

Hull,  Captain  Isaac,  308,  311 

Humbert,  General,  xcviii 

Hunt,  Henry,  8-10,  12,  14,  15 

Hutchinson,  226 

Hutt,  Captain  John,  270 


Indies,  the,  lx,  42,  46,  265 

—  East,  1,  lxxix,  129,  134 

—  West,  xxiv,  xliii,  li,  lxxxi,   197, 
222,  316,  320,  361 

Inglefield,  Captain  John  Nichol- 
son, xcii 
Ireland,  xcviii,  251,  277,  280 
Irish  Channel,  251 
1  Iron  Castle,'  the,  178 


Jack  the  Painter,  255,  357 
Jago   de   Cuba,   v.    Santiago   de 
Cuba 


Jamaica,    1,    lxxi,    xcii,    150,    177, 

181,263 
James  River,  lii 
Jefifery,  Robert,  8,  307,  361 
Jenkins,  Captain,  lxxiii,  172 
Jennings,  Colonel,  2:1 

—  Sir  William,  79,  80 
Jermy,  Captain  Seth,  lxviii 
Jerrold,  Douglas,  cvii 
Jervis,  Admiral,  v.  St.  Vincent 
John  of  Aile   {i.e.  Jan  van  Eyle 

or  Heylle),  3,  339 
Johnson,  Charles,  li 

—  Samuel,  lxxii 

Jones,    Paul,  xc,   xci,  xciii,  259 

261,  358 
Jordan,  Vice-admiral  Sir  Joseph, 

73 
Jumper,    Captain     Sir    William, 
lxiv 


Kedah,  135,  347 

Kempthorne,       Captain       John, 

xxxvii,  xxxviii,  74,  344 
Kent,  xxv,  37,  39 
Keppel,       Augustus,       Viscount, 

lxxix,   lxxxi,   xc,   212,  223,  248, 

255,  256,  257,  357,  358 
Kid,  or  Kidd,  Captain    William, 

li,  1 34-7,. 347-8 
Killala,  xcviii 
Killigrew,    Admiral    Henry,    xlv, 

108,  109 
—  Captain     James,    xlviii,     126, 

127,  346 
Kilroot,  220 

Kingston  (Jamaica),  149 
Kinsale,  195,  196 
Kirkby,    Captain    Richard,     149, 

349 
Kirkham,  John,  xv 
Knowles,        Rear-admiral 

Charles,  lxxv,  199,  353 
Kyret,  Sir  Hugh,  v.  <2uie'ret 


La  Clue,  Admiral  de,  lxxix 

La   Galissoniere,  Admiral  de  la, 

lxxvii,  lxxviii,  lxxxvi,  207 
La  Hogue,  xlvii,  xlviii,  lxiii,   120, 

122 


376 


SONGS  AND  BALLADS 


La      Jonquiere,      Admiral      the 

Marquis  de,  lxxv,  353 
Lake,  Captain  Warwick,  361 
Lake  Erie,  308 
Lancaster,     Henry     of     Derby, 

Duke  of,  2,  339 
Langara,  Admiral  Don  Juan  de, 

xci 
Laughton.  Lieutenant,  186 
Lawrence,   Captain   James,   308, 

312 
Lawson,    Vice-admiral  Sir  John, 

xxx,  xliii,  liii,  61 
Leake,   Admiral   Sir  John,    lxiv, 

156,  157. 
Lee,  Captain,  190 

—  Nathaniel,  xlii 
Leghorn,  xxxviii 
Leith,  xc,  252 

—  Roads,  249 
Lepanto,  no,  122 

Lesley,  John,  Bishop  of  Ross,  xiv 
Lestock,    Vice-admiral    Richard, 

lxxv,  181,  182,  184,  187 
Levant,  the,  127 
Lichfield,  359 
Lindsey,  Robert  Bertie,  Earl  of, 

xxiv,  xxv 
Linois,    Vice-admiral    C.    A.   L. 

Durand,  Comte  de,  xcvii,  xcviii, 

298 
Lisbon,  156,  185,  192-4,  254 
'  Little  John,'  266,  267 
Liverpool,  lxxxvi,  lxxxvii,  lxxxviii, 

cviii,  357,  359 
Lockhart,   v.  Ross,    Captain  Sir 

John  Lockhart 
London,  viii,  xx,  xxv,  xlvi,  9,  28, 

29,  95,  124,  145,  262,  342 
Londonderry,  xliv,  lxxxi 
Lorient,  xc,  259 
Lothbury,  231 
Louisbourg,  lxxix 
Luttrell,  Narcissus,  348 
Lyme  Regis,  49 
Lynn,  Ixxvi,  189 
Lyons,  Har1  dii 


McCleverty,  Mr.,  362 
Maclome,  v.  Port-Mahon 
MacSkimin,  Mr.,  356 


Madagascar,  1,  348 

Madeira,  243 

Madison,    James,    President    of 

the  United  States,  ci,  315 
Madras,  330 

Magellan,  Straits  of,  243,  244 
Maidstone,  Lord  (William  Finch, 

son    of    Heneage,    2nd    Earl 

of  Winchilsea),  xxxv 
Main  waring,  Sir  Henry,  xxi 
Maitland,      Captain      Frederick 

Lewis,  300 
Malabar,  136 
Malaga,  xxvii,  lxiv,  lxvii,  47,  48, 

343 
Mallet,  David,  lxxii 

Malluda  Bay,  cxiii,  364 

Malta,  25,  288 

'  Manley,'  lxi 

Manning,    Captain     (?     Captain 

Covill  Mayne),  175 
Manny,  Sir  Walter,  2,  339 
Mansell,  Sir  Robert,  xxii,  32 
Mansfield,   Captain   (?  Michael), 

xxxviii,  86,  87,  344 
Markham,  Gervase,  xv 
Marlow,  Captain  Benjamin,  354 
Marryat,  Captain  Frederick,  cvi, 

cvii,  322,  345,  362 
Marseilles    (i.e     Messina),    127, 

346 
Marshalsea,  the,  348 
Marteilhe,  Jacques  de,  lxviii 
'  Marten,  Henry,'  xiv 
Martinico,  xxxvii,  lxxxii,  222,  306 
Marvell,  Andrew,  xxviii,  xxxiv 
Marza,  224 
Mathews,   Admiral  Thomas,    ix, 

lxxv,  186,  187,  353 
Mawnay,  v.  Manny 
Maynard,  Lieutenant  Robert,  lii, 

166-8 
Mediterranean,    xxxvii,   xli,   xlii, 

xiv,   xlviii,  liv,  lvi,  Ixxiii,  173  ; 

v.  also  Straits 
Med  way,  River,  xxxiv 
Menschikoff,  337 
Mercant,  127 
Mexico,  138 
Mines,  John,  34 

Minns   {i.e.   Myngs),   Sir    Chris- 
topher, xliii  liii,  61,  62 


INDEX   OF  PROPER  NAMES      377 


Minorca,  lxxxi,  21 1,  354 

Minot,    Laurence,    xi,    1-4,    339, 

34° 
Mocca  (Mocha.-'),  348 
Moncalda,  Don  Hugo  de,  19 
Monck,  George,  v.  Albemarle 
Montague,  Captain  James,  271 
Monument,  the,  139 
Moore,  John  Hamilton,  cii 
Morard     de     Galles,     Admiral, 

xcviii 
Mordaunt,  Sir  John,  lxxix 
More,  J.,  xcv 

—  William,  135,  347 
Morecock,  Captain,  lxxxvi 
Moreno.  Vice  admiral  Don  J.  J. 

de,  298 
Morgan,  Sir  Henry,  xlix 

—  Lieutenant  William  Thomas, 

315 
Morley  (Morlay),  Sir  Robert,   2, 

339 

Morocco,  lxxix,  215 

Mostyn,  Vice-admiral  Savage, 
203 

Mountioy,  Charles  Blount,  8th 
Lord,  31 

Moui.t  Wyse,  322 

Mullon,  Jean,  267 

Mundy  {i.e.  Munden),  Rear- 
admiral  Sir  John,  lxiv 

Murray,  Captain  George,  292 


Napier,  Admiral  Sir  Charles,  ex, 

cxi,  cxii,  333 
Naples,  287,  288 
Napoleon,  302 

Narbrough,  Admiral  Sir  John,  xli 
Nassau  (Bahamas),  320 
Navarino,  cix,  ex 
Nelson,  Horatio,  Viscount,  lxxxv, 

xevi,  ci,  civ,  cxi,  287,  290,  295-8, 

301-4,  359,  360 
Neper,  Captain,  251,  252 
Netheway,  34 
Newcastle-on- Tyne,  Ixxxvii,    ciii, 

8,251 
Newcastle,     Thomas      Pelham- 

Holles,  Duke  of,  lxxviii 
New  England,  xlvi 
Newfoundland,  lxxvii,  348 


Newgate,  137 
New  York,  247  ^13,  347 
Nichull  or  Nicfiolas,  16,  341 
Nile,  the,  xcv,  xrvi,  287 
Nore,  the,  xcix,  190,  201 
Norris,  Admiral  Sir  John,  xvi,  1  ,1 
North,  Frederick,  Lord,  xci 
Northampton,  William  de  Bohun, 

Earl  of,  2,  339 
Northumberland,  Algernon  Percy, 

10th  Earl  of,  xxiv,  xxv 
—  Rock,  1 14 


O'Brian,    Captain    Lucius,    lxxxi, 

222,  356 
Odessa,  336 
Ogle,  Rear-admiral  Sir  Chaloner, 

181-3 
Old  Bailey,  the,  1,  lxviii 
Omoa,  xci,  262 
Opdam  (i.e.  Admiral   Jacob  van 

Wassenaer,   Lord  of  Obdam), 

57-59,  62 
Oporto,  xxxviii,  lxxvi,  189 
Orford,  Edward  Russell,  Earl  of, 
xliv,  xlvi,  xlix,  1 12,  1 13,  i  1  5,  1 19, 
120,  121,  123,  125,  I  ,  129, 

345 
Ormon,  Mr.,  315 
Ormonde,     James     Butler,     2nd 

Duke  of,  Ixiii,  15 1-3 
Orvilliers,  Vice-admiral  Comte  d', 

xc 
Otranto,  1 10 
Oxford,  137,  348 


Pacific,  331 

—  fleet,  170,  171 

Palliser,  Vice-admiral  Sir  Hv. 

xc,  255-8,  358 
Panama,  1,  178 
Pantelaria,  Gulf  of,  xlviii 
Paris,  16 
Parker,  Rear-admiral  Sir  Hyde, 

295-6 

—  Martin,  be,  xxvi,  4a  2,  343 

—  Richard,  xcix,  281,  282,  359 

—  Admiral  Sir  Peter,  lxxxix,  246, 

357 
Parry,  Sir  William  Edward,  332 


37& 


SONGS  AND  BALLADS 


Pasley,  Rear-admiral  Sir  Thomas, 

270,  271,  273 
Pearson,  Captain  Sir  Richard,  259 
Peele,  George,  xv 
Pellew,     Sir    Edward,    Viscount 

Exmouth,  xcviii,  xcix,  267,  268, 

Penn,  Sir  William,  xxx,  xxxiii,  70 
Pepys,  Samuel,  xxx,  xxxii,  xxxiii, 

xliii,  liii,   lvi,  lxii,  Ixxxiii,  cxvi, 

92 
Percy,  Bishop,  xiv,  340 
Perry,  Captain  Oliver  H.,  308 
Persia,  132 
Peru,  195,  226 

Petre,  Father  Edward,  124,  346 
Pett,  Peter,  xxxiv 
Philadelphia,  xciii 
Phipps,  Sir  William,  xliii 
Pickard,  Captain  Peter,  xlviii 
'  Pickle,  Peregrine,'  lxxi 
Pilon,  Frederick,  357 
Piper,  Diggory,  342 
Pitt,  William,  Earl  of  Chatham, 

227 

—  William,  Ixxxi,  278,  279 
Playford,  John,  343 
Plymouth   (town,    harbour,    bay, 

sound),  xlvii,  li,  18,  21,  25,  89, 
91,  113,  132,  203,  204,  243,  303, 
SOS,  315,  337,  346,  354,  357, 
358 

Pocock,  Admiral  Sir  George, 
lxxix,  lxxxii,  223 

Point  Petre  {i.e.  Point  a  Pitre, 
Guadeloupe),  275 

Pondicherry,  199 

'  Porpuss,  Captain,'  lviii,  lxii 

Port  and  Port  a  Port,  v.  Oporto 

Port  Cornwallis,  330 

—  Famine,  224 
Portland,  U.S.A.,  308 
Portlock,  Captain  Nathaniel,  289, 

290 
Port  Louis,  lxxv,  199,  353 

—  Mahon,  xlvii,  lxxvii,  lxxviii,  193, 
209,211,  214,  354 

—  Rhode,  184 

—  Royal,  149,  263,  320,  349 
Porto  Bello,  ix,  lxxiv,  lxxv,  177— 

180,  352 

—  Rico,  92-5,  344 


Portsmouth,  Ivii,  lxxi,  171,  194 
197,  201,  230,  268,  278,  336, 
354,358 

Prado,  Juan  de,  225 

Prat,  J.,  xcv,  283 

Price,  Lawrence,  xxiii,  xxvi,   34, 

35 
Providence  (Bahamas),  319 
Purcell,  Henry,  lviii 
Purser  (pirate),  xvii 
Pynson,  Pety,  xiii 


Quebec,  260 
Quedagh,  v.  Kedah 
Quiberon  Bay,  lxxix,  217 
Quida,  v.  Kedah 
QuieVet,  Hugues  de,  1,  339 


Rainborow,      Captain      William, 

xxiii,  342 
Ralegh,  Sir  Walter,  xviii,  xix 
Raleigh,  127 
Ramsey  Bay,  222 
Ram's  Head,  the,  113 
'Random,    Roderick,'    Ixix,    lxx, 

lxxi,  Ixxxiv 
Rands,  Thomas,  lxv 
Rangoon,  330,  331 
Re,  Isle  of,  xxiii 
Red  Sea,  348 
Reynolds,  Captain   Robert   Car- 

thew,  xcix,  276 
Rhodes,  Isle  of,  lxi 
Richmond,       Frances       Stuart, 

Duchess  of,  xxxv 
Rigny,    Rear-admiral  Henri    de, 

ex 
Riou,  Captain  Edward,  294 
Ritson,  Joseph,  xi 
Roberts,  Captain,  194 
Robertson,  Robert,  xl 
Robson,  John,  251 
Rochefort,  lxxix 
Rochester,    John    Wilmot,    Earl 

of,  343 
Rodney,    George     Brydges,    1st 

Baron  Rodney,  lxxx,  lxxxi,  xci, 

xcii,  244,  262 
Rogers    (i.e.    Rodgers),   Captain 

John,  308,  309 


INDEX   OF  PROPER   NAMES      379 


Rooke,  Admiral  Sir  George,  xlviii, 
lxiv,   116,    118,    123,    151,    153, 

154,  35o 
Ross,  Sir  James  Clark,  cxiii,  331, 

—  Captain    Sir   John    Lockhart, 

lxxxix,  xc,  254,  262 
Rotterdam,  lxxvi 
Round  Court,  105 
Rupert,  Prince,  xxx,  51,  60,  63-67, 

73,75 
Russell,  Edward,  v.  Orford,  Earl 

of 

Rye,  138 


S— ,  Sir  H— ,  137 

St.  Clement's,  104 

St.  Helens,  202,  253,  278 

St.  Jago,  243 

St.  James  of  Compostella,  xii,  4 

St.  James's  Park,  229 

St.  Jean  d'Acre,  ex,  333,  334,  363 

St.  Lo,  George,  liii 

St  Lucar,  xxv 

St.  Lucia,  lxxxii,  263 

St.  Malo,  xiii,  xlix,  lxxvi,  125 

St.  Paul's,  37,  124,  208 

St.  Vincent,  lxxxii 

Admiral    Sir  John  Jervis, 

Earl  of,  xciv,  xevi 
Sallee,  xxii,  xxiii,  23,  343 
Sandwich,  4 

—  Edward  .Montague,  1st  Earl  of, 
xxx,  xxxiii,  xxxiv,  liii,  58 

—  John   Montague,  4th  Earl  of, 
xci,  256,  257,  358 

Santa  Cruz,  xxviii,  213 
Santiago  de  Cuba,  199 
Saumarez,  Sir  James,  xcvii 
Saunders,  Admiral   Sir   Charles, 
lxxv,  219 

—  Richard  Creagh,  328,  337,  363, 

364 
Sawyer   (Sayer),  Captain  James, 

lxxix,  212-4,  355 
Scanderoon,  hi 
Schelling,  77,  79,  80,  81 
Scilly  Islands,  Ixvii,  cxiv 
Scott,  Sir  Walter,  xevi 
Sebastopol,  337 
Selden,  John,  xxiv 


Seville,  138 

Seymour,  Captain  Michael,  306 
Shakespeare,  William,  lxi 
Shaterino,    i.e.   Chateau-Renault, 

IS2 

Shcerness,  281 

Shield,  357 

Shields,  ciii,  249 

Shovel,  Sir  Clowdisley,  xlv,  lxiv, 

Ixvi,  lxvii,  106-7,  115,  123 
Sicily,  288 

Simon,  Peter,  7,  11,  15 
Sizewell,  Captain,  82 
Sluys,  xi,  1,  3 
Smith,  Sir  Jeremy,  60,  62,  68,  70, 

74 

—  Captain  John,  xx,  xxii 

—  Captain   Thomas,  lxviii,   154, 

!55 
Smollett,  Tobias,  lxix,    lxx,    lxxi, 

lxxxiv,  351 
Smyrna,  xxix,  xxxi,  55,  127 
Snell,  Hannah,  alias  James  Gray, 

cv,  200,  353,  354 
Solebay,  xxxv,  lviii,  344 
Sombrero,  I.  of,  361 
Southampton,  cxii 
South  Seas,  the,  1,  132,  244 
Southwold  Bay,  xxxv 
Spanish  Main,  the,  1,  347 
Spencer,      George     John,      2nd 

Earl  Spencer,  278 
Spithead,    lxviii,    xcix,    161,     168, 

170,  174,  192,  201,  202,  212,  277, 

289,351 
Spragge,  Sir  Edward,   xxxv,  xli, 

xlii,  xliii,  74 

Spriggs,  Captain,  347 

4  Stephano,'  lxi 

Stevens,  Francis,  129 

—  George  Alexander,  xi,  lxxi 
Stoakes,  Samuel,  lxi 
Stonehouse,  Captain,  lxxxvii,  226. 

227 
Stopford,  Sir  Robert,  ex 
Strachan,  Admiral    Sir    Richard, 

ci,  5°4,  305.  361 
Straits,  the,  108,  129,  287,  v.  also 

Mediterranean 
Strand,  the,  104 
Stuart,  Prince  Charles    Edward, 

204,  354 


;8o 


SONGS  AND  BALLADS 


Stukely,  Thomas,  xviii 

Sullivan's  Island,  246,  247 

Surat,  347 

Swin,  the,  1-4 

Syrenham  {i.e.  Surinam),  xxxvii 

Talbot,  Captain,  lxxxvi,  69,  70 
—  Captain  Charles,  334,  335 
Tangier,  lvi,  84 
Taylor,    Captain   Thomas,  lxxxi, 

222 
<■  _  William '  or  '  Billy,'  cv,  326- 

32S,  3°3 

Teach,  Captain  Edward  (Black- 
beard),  lii,  166-7 

Temple  Bar,  255 

Teneriffe,  213 

Teonge,  Rev.  Henry,  xli,  lvi,  lvii 

Terne,  Captain  Henry,  xxxv 

Tetuan,  xxiii 

Texel,  the,  xcv,  283 

Thames,  River,  xxxiv,  4,  8,  14,  75 

Thomson,  James,  lxxii,  lxxiii 

Thurot,  Commodore  Francois, 
lxxxi,  220-2,  355,  356 

Tiddiman  (i.e.  Teddem 
admiral  Sir  Thomas,  J2> 

Tilbury,  xix 

Timms,  J.,  358 

Tobago,  xciv 

Torbay,  217 

Torrington,  Arthur  Herbert,  Earl 
of,  x,  xl,  li,  no,  in,  112 

Toulon,  ix,  xlviii,  xlix,  xciv,  xcv, 
108,  128 

Toulouse,  Admiral  Louis-Alex- 
andre de  Bourbon,  Comte  de, 
lxiv,  153,  154,  35° 

Tourville,  Admiral  Anne-Hilanon 
de  Cotentin,  Comte  de,  xlv,  xlix, 
119,  120,  121,  128,  129,  138 

Tower,  the,  194,  201 

—  Hill,  lxxiv,  332 
Trafalgar,  c,  ci,  301,  361 
Tripoli,  xli 

*  Trunnion,  Commodore,'  lxx 
Tunis,  xxiii,  27,  29,  51 
Turkey,  28 
Tyrrell,  Captain  John,  1 10 

—  Captain  Richard,  261 
Tyrwhitt,  Thomas,  xi 


Uly  Island  (i.e.  Vlieland),  77~8o 

Ushant,  xc,  xcii,  xciv 

Utber,  Rear-admiral  Richard,  73 


Vache,  Island  of,  349 
Valdez,  Don  Pietro  de,  18,  19 
Van    Tromp,   Admiral    Cornelis 
Martenszoon,    58,    59,   61,    62, 

67,  69,  71,  74,  77 
—  —  Admiral  Marten  Harperts- 

zoon,  59 
Vaux,  James  Hardy,  359 
Velasco,  Don  Luis  de,  224 
Venice,  25,  36,  127 
Vernon,  Admiral  Edward,  ix,  lxxiv, 

lxxv,    177-183,   261,    352,    353, 

359  „       „ 

Vigo,  Ixiii,  lxxv,  151-3,  184,  185, 

35o 
Vincent,  v.  St.  Vincent 
Virginia,  xvi,  Hi,  148,  166-8 


Wade,  Captain  Cooper,  149,  349 
Wager,  Admiral  Sir  Charles,  171 
Wagnall,  lxxx 
Walderswyck  (i.e.  Walberswick), 

82 
Walker,  Captain  George,  lxxxvi 

—  Rear-admiral    Sir    Hovenden, 
xliii,  92 

—  Mickey,  320,  321 

Waller,     Edmund,     xxviii,    xxix, 

xxxi,  xxxii,  xxxiii 
Wallis,  Captain  Samuel,  244,  357 
Walpole,  Sir  Robert,  x,  lxxiii 
Wapping,  xlvi,  lx,  cviii,  in,  201 
Ward,  Captain  John,  xxi,  xxii,  25- 

3i,  342 
Warner,  William,  xiv,  xv 
Warren,  Sir  John  Borlase,  xcviii 

—  Vice-admiral  Sir   Peter,  lxxv, 
196,  261 

Washington,  George,  Ixxxix,  244, 

245,357  -      J    .  , 

Watkins,    Lieutenant    Frederick, 

275 
Watson,  Thomas,  34 

Welling  (i.e.  the  Wielings),  77 


INDEX   OF  PROPER  NAMES      *8i 


Wentworth,  150 

West,      Rear-admiral      Temple, 

lxxviii,  203,  208,  2IO,  355 
White,  Captain,  286 
—  Captain  Ignatius,  344 
Whitehall,  57,  69,  142 
White  Hart  Yard,  105 
Whitehaven,  jcc 
Whitehead,  Paul,  lxxx 
Whitelocke,  Bulstrode,  lv,  lvi 
Wignell,  J.,  355 
W  ilkes,  John,  lxxxiv 
William,  Prince,  xcii,  cv,  cvi,  262, 

263  ;  v.  also  Clarence 
Winchelsea,  xi,  4 
Withrington,  123 
Wolfe,  General  James,  219,  260, 

275 
Woolwich,  xxv,  39 


Wright,      Captain       Fortunatus, 

bcxxvi 
Wycherley,  William,  Ixiii 


Yarmouth,  Ixxvi,  216,  295 

—  Roads,  2S4 

Yeaman,  315 

Yeo,    Lieutenant    James    Lucas, 

300,  301 
York,  James,  Duke  of,  xx,  xxxii, 

xxxiii,  xl,  xliii,  55,  58,  59,  61,  62, 

75,  76,  82,  83 
Yorkshire,  259 
Young,  Edward,  lxxi,  lxxii 
Ypres,  2 


Zeeland,  64,  68,  74 


NAMES    OF    SHIPS 


Achille,  270 

Adventure,  127 

Adventure  galley,  li 

Aeolus,  Ixxxi 

Albion,  ex 

Alcide,  lxxvii 

Alliance,  xciii 

Amazon,  xcix,  276,  277,  296,  359 

America,  269,  270 

Amethyst,  ci,  305,  361 

Angel  Gabriel,  xxiii,  34,  35 

Antelope,  47,  114 

Antigallican,  lxxxvii 

Ardent,  285,  295 

Arethusa,  lxxxix,  cxiv,  248,    249, 

357 
Armide,  ex 
Arrogant,  336 

Arrow,  ix,  xcix,  289,  290,  359 
Asia,  xc 
Assistance,  xli 
Association,  lxvii 
Astrcea,  286,  359 
Aurora,  xciii 


Bacchus,  lxxvi,  189 
Belle  Poule,  lxxxix,  248 
Bellerophon,  ix,   xciv,    271,    272, 

288,  334 
Bellona,  296 
Benbow,  333 

Benjamin,  xliii,  89-92,  344 
Blanche,  xcix,  275-6,  296,  359 
Blandford,  lxxxvii,  226,  227,  356 
Bonaventer,  29 
Boxer,  308 
Breda,  78,  350 
Brilliant,  lxxxi,  221 
Brisk,  ex 
Bristol,  lvi,  245,  246,  247 


Britannia,  121 

Brunswick,  269 

Bryan,  47 

Burford,  ix,  lxxiv,  177,  179 


Caesar,  li,  129,  131,  303,  304,  346 

Cambrian,  ex 

Cambridge,  224 

Canterbury,  lxxvi,  168,  169,  351 

Captain,  201 

Carlisle,  127 

'  Carteel,'  354 

Carysfort,  333,  363 

Castor,  333 

Centaur,  xcii,  265,  358 

Centurion,  viii,  x,  196 

Charity,  29 

Charles,  xxxvii 

Charles  the  Second,  1,  346 

Chesapeake,   cii,   311,   312,   361, 

362 
Chesterfield,  354 
Cleopatra,  xcix,  267,  358 
Colossus,  c 
Congress,  309 
Conquerant,  122 
Constitution,  cii,  309,  361 
Content,  xlviii 
Coronation,  xlvii,  114,  345 
Countess  of  Scarborough,  xc 
Courageux,  303 
Cressy,  336 
Cristofir,  3 
Crown  (?),  218 
Cumberland,  345 


Danae,  lxxxi 

Dart,  296 

Dartmouth,  xliii,  92-95,  344 


NAMES   OF  SHIPS 


3* 


Dauphin,  108 

Defence,  c 

Defiance,  163,  295,  349 

Desire,  xviii 

Desiree,  296 

Devonshire,  198 

Didon,  304 

Diomede,  xciii 

Dolphin,  207,  243,  354,  357 

Dragon,  224 

Drake,  xc 

Droits   de    1'Homme,   xcix,   277, 

359 
Duke,  Ixxxvi,  194 
Dunbar,  xxviii,  52 
Dunkirk,  213,  214 


Eagle,  lxvii,  114 

Edgar,  lxviii,  160-162,  292,  295 

Edinburgh,  ^23 

Egmont,  254,  357 

Elephant,  296 

Elizabeth,  28,  69,  114,  345 

Elizabeth  Jonas,  xvi 

Endymion,  313,  314,  362 

Enterprising,  308 

Esperance,  300 

Essex,  309 

European,  xlvi 

Euryalus,  c 


Falmouth,  127 
Fancy,  1,  131,  347 
Fanfan,  75 
Firebrand,  lxvii 
Firedrake,  212 
Formidable,  254,  300 
Fox,  343 
Franklin,  288 
Friends,  251 
Frolic,  308 
Furnace,  212 
Fury,  33 1 


George,  xx,  48,  5 1 
George-Aloe,  xxi,  23,  24,  342 
Glasgow,  ex 
Glatton,  295 
Glorieux,  xcii 
Glory,  264 
Gloucester,  345 
Golden  Horse,  xlii 
Greyhound,  47 
Griffin,  222,  223 
Guerriere,  cii,  308,  309,  361 
Gunsway,  1,  134 


Hancock,  xciii 
Hannibal,  299 
Hardwick,  1 14 
Harwich,  xlvii,  345 
Hawke,  lxxxvii,  xcii,  356 
Hazard,  333 
Hecla,  336 
Hector,  xcii 
Henery,  65 
Henry,  xxxvi,  47 
Hercule,  xcix,  285,  259 
Hermione,  296 
Hero,  304 
Honour,  27 
Hunter,  xciii 
Hyder  Ally,  xciii 


Impetueux,  270 
Impregnable,  cviii 
Indefatigable,  276,  277 
Intrepid,  208 
Ipswich,  202 
Iris,  xciii 
Isis,  296 


James  and  Mary,  xliii,  95,  96 
Java,  308 
Jenny,  251 
Juste,  270 


Galleazzo,  the  Great,  viii,  xix,  18- 

21,  34= 
Ganges,  296 
General  Monk,  xciii 
Genoa,  cix,  ex 


Kent,  lxxiii,  175,  176 


La  Loire,  300,  360 
Languedoc,  258 


384  SONGS  AND  BALLADS 


Larne,  363  ...     OQ 
Leander,  cvni,  2bS,  331 
Lennox,  lxxiii,  175 
Leviathan,  272 
Lewis,  108 
Lichfield,  lxxix 

Liffy,  359,  3^3 

Lilly,  33i 

Lion,  37,  193,  345 

Litchfield,  213,  214,  2^5 

London,  278  .. 

Lord    Anson,  lxxxvn,    225,    220, 

35° 
L'Orient,  288 

Loyal  London,  xxxii 

Loyalty,  114 

Lyme,  343 

Lynx,  114 

Lyon,  xxy,  114 

Lys,  lxxvii 

Ludlow  Castle,  Ixviii 


Macedonian,  308 
Maidstone,  343 
Margarita,  304 
Marlborough,  224,  363 
Marquis  de  Brancos,  lxxvi 
Mars,  xcix,  c,  285,  286,  303,  359 
Mary,  lxv,  60 

Marygold,  87 

Mary  Rose,  xxxviu 

Melampe,  lxxxi,  216 

Minotaur,  288 

Mocca,  348 

Monarch,  295 

Monmouth,  xlviu,  106 


Namur,  304 
Nantwich,  343 
Nassau,  lxxix,  212-214,  355 
Newbury,  343 
Nightingale,  lxvni,  155 
'Noah's  Ark,'  150,  350 
Nonsuch,  lxxxix 
Northumberland,  lxvi,  270,  345 
Nymphe,  267,  358 

Orford,  Ixviii,  175,  "76,  351 
Otter,  296 


Pallas,  lxxxi 

Peacock,  308 

Pearl,  lii 

Pelican,  xlv,  106,  107 

Phancy,  v.  Fancy 

Philomel,  ex 

Phoenix,  lxvii,  304,  354 

Pique,  333,  362 

Plymouth,  126 

Poictiers,  308 

Polyphemus,  296 

Pomone,  cii 

Portsmouth,  lvii 

Powerful,  333 

President,  cii,  309,  314 

Prince,  218 

Prince  Edward,  212 

Prince     Frederick,    lxxxvi,     194, 

195 
Prince  George,  xcn 
Princess   Royal,    x,    lxxvn,    190, 

191 
Princissa   (Princesa),  lxxui,  I75» 

176,  351 


Quebec,  xciii,  xcii,  260 

Quedagh  Merchant,  347 

Queen  Charlotte,  cviii,  270,  278, 

279 

Rainbow,  xxii,  30,  31,  342 

Rambler,  261 

Ramillies,  xcii 

Randolph,  xciii 

Reguli,  288  _  ... 

Resolution,     xlvm,    lxxxvm,    00, 

68,70,348     . 
Restoration,  lxvi 
Revenge,  xv,  333 
Revolutionnaire,  304 
Richard,  259 
Rising  Sun  (or  Royal  Sun)  115, 

119,  121,  122,  125,  152,  218 
Robin  Hood,  266,  358 
Romney,  lxvii,  168,  351 
Rose,  xlv,  xlvi,  ex,  37 
'Royal  Billy,'  240,  241,  357  . 
Royal   Charles,  xxxiv,  xxxvi,  69, 

73,  75,  ,  Q 

Royal  George,  lxxx,  218 


NAMES   OF  SHIPS 


Royal  Oak,  xci,  xxxiv,  258, 

345 
Royal  Sovereign,  37-40,  147 

Ruby,  47,  150,  343,  35° 


^59, 


Saint  Andrew,  22 

Saint  David,  xli,  liv,  Ivii 

Saint  George,  lxvii 

Saint  John,  136 

Saint  Matthew,  22 

Saint  Philip,  22 

Sandwich,  282 

Santo  Domingo,  xci 

Sapphire,  xlii,  lxxv,  184,  353 

Schaherlaes,  xlii,  83 

Scorpion,  xciii 

Scylla,  ciii,  319,  320,  362 

Seaflower,  xcvii 

Serapis,  xc,  xciii 

Seven  Provinces,  74 

Severn,  197,  198 

Shannon,  cii,  311-314,  361,  362 

Shrewsbury,  xc,  181,  182,  254 

Sophia,  331 

Southampton,  lxxxi,  216 

South  Carolina,  xciii 

Sovereign,  73,  75 

Sovereign  of  the  Seas,  xxiv,  xxv 

Spence,  181 

Stirling  Castle,  lxv,  Ixvi 

Success,  lviii 

Suffolk,  34S 

Sun,  109 

Superb,  cviii,  cix 

Surveillante,  xcii 

Swallow,  xxxviii,  243.  244,  357 


in,  249 
Sweepstakes,  23,  24,  342 


Talbot,  333 

Tartar,  xc,  198 

Temple,  222,  223 

Tenedos,  cii 

Terrible,  lxxxvi,  lxxxvii,  19S,  204- 

6,354 
Thetis,  ci,  305,  361 
Thomas  Bonaventurc,  xx 
Thunder,  198,  327  8 
Thunderer,  "33 
Torbay,  213,  214 
Trident,  xlviii,  198 
Triumph,  xxxv 
Tyger,  83,  84,  85 


1  Valance,'  v.  Vengeance 
Vanguard,  ciii,  288,  320,  321,  36: 
Vengeance,  lxxxvi,  204,  354 
Vengeur,  269,  270 
Victory,  lxxvii,  192  4,  257,  353 
Ville  de  Paris,  xcii,  264 


Warwick,  345 
Wasp,  ex,  308,  333,  334 
Wellington,  cxii 
Whelpes,  37 


Yarmouth,  xciii,  201 


Zealous,  288 


C  C 


TUNES    MENTIONED 


Admiral  Benbow,  148,  349 
Admiral  Byng  and  brave   West, 

201,  355 
Admiral     Keppel      Triumphant, 

255>358 
A  Fig  for  France  and  Holland  too, 

63,  66,  79 
A  hunting  we  will  go,  247 
Aim  not  too  high,  115,  160 
An  Orange,  104 
Arethusa,  248,  283,  357 
Avast !    Honest   Mess-mate,    195 
Awake,  oh  my  Cloris  !  88 


Banstead  Downs,  140 
Brave    Vernon's  Triumph,     181, 
353 


Cannons  rore,  129 

Captain  Death,  205,  354 

Captain  Ward,  30 

Cawsand  Bay,  328,  363 

Chevy  Chase,  231 

Come  and  Listen  to   my    Ditty, 

162,  179,  200,  350,  352 
Coming  Down,  134 


Death  of  Admiral  Benbow,  149, 

35o 
Digby's  Farewell,  84 

Down    by  a  Crystal  River   side, 

193 
Dub  a  Dub,    or,    the    Seaman's 

Tantara  ra,  21 
Duke  of  Lorain  and  the  Princess 

Royal,  199 


Every  Man  Keep  his  own  Room, 


211 


Five  Sail  of  Frigats    bound   for 

Malago,  47 
Fond  boy,  125 


Glorious  Charles  of  Sweden,  177, 
Gossip  Joan,  227 


Hearts   of    Oak,    xc,    220,    304, 

355 
Hey  !    for    the    honour    of    Old 

England,  120 
Hey  Ho,  my  Hony,  53 


I  am  a  Jovial  Batchelor,  42 

I  often  for  my  Jenny  strove,  99 

I  prethee  Love  turn  to  me,  61 

I  was,  d'ye  see,  a  Waterman,  271 

Iantha,  233 

Ian  the,  146,  348 

I'le  go  to  Sir  Richard,  101 

In    the    merry   month    of   June, 

143 


John  Dory,  16,  341 

John  Duke  of  Marlborough,  209 


Ladies  of  London,  95 
Let  Caesar  Live  Long,  106 
Let  the  soldiers  rejoice,  117 
Let     us    drink     and     sing,    and 
merrily  troul  the  bowl,  53 


TUNES  MENTIONED 


3*7 


Monsieur  Ragou,  or  the  Dancing 

Hobby  horses,  72,  76 
Mounseers  Almaigne,  18 


O  so  ungrateful  a  creature,  145 
Our  Noble  King  in  his  Progress, 

34 


Packington's  Pound,  58,  344 

Round  about   the  Hollow  Tree, 

66 
Kussel's  Farewell,  133 


Sail  before  the  mast,  154 
Shannon   and    Chesapeake. 
362 


Si', 


Tars  of  the  Blanche,  331 
The  Dancing   Hobby-horses,   v. 
Monsieur  Ragou 


The  Dusky  Night,  247 

The  Jovial  Cobbler,  40 

The  King's  going  to  Bulloign,  25 

The    Landlad>    of  France,    309, 

36i 
The  Lilies  of  France,  243 
The  Poor  Benjamin,  89 
The  Ring  of  Cold,  97 
The    Seaman's    Tantara    ra,    ;■. 

Dub  a  Dub 
The  Spinning  Wheel,  108 
The  stormy  winds  do  blow,  53,  :4, 

343 
The  Two  English  Travellers,  131 

The  Vicar  of  Bray,  2S1 
Thursday  in  the  Morn,   119,  156, 

346 
To  all  you  ladies  now  at  land,  56, 

343 


We'll  go  no  more  to  Greenland, 

249 
When  this  old  Cap  was  New,  61 
Which  nobody  can  deny,  1  io 


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In  1895:  Vol.  III.  Letters  of  Lord  Hood,  17S1-S2. 
Edited  by  Mr.  David  Hannay.     (None  available.) 

Vol.  IV.  Index  to  fames's  Naval  History,  by  Mr.  C.  G. 
Toogood.     Edited  by  the  Hon.  T.  A.  Brasscy.     {12s.  6d.) 

Vol.  V.  Life  of  Captain  Stephen  Martin,  1666- 1740. 
Edited  by  Sir  Clements  R.  Markham.     {None  available.) 

In  1896:  Vol.  Vl.foumal of  Rear- Admiral Bartholomew* 
James,  1 752-1828.  Edited  by  Professor  J.  K.  Laughton 
and  Commander  J.  Y.  F.  Sulivan.     (ior.  6d.) 

Vol.  VII.  Hollond's  Discourses  of  the  Navy,  1638  and 
1658.     Edited  by  Mr.  J.  R.  Tanner.     {12s.  6d.) 

Vol.  VIII.  Naval  Accounts  and  Inventories  in  the  Reign 
of  Henry  VII.     Edited  by  Mr.  M.  Oppenheim.     (10s.  6d.) 

In  1897:  Vol.  IX.  Journal  of  Sir  George  Rooke. 
Edited  by  Mr.  Oscar  Browning,     (10s.  6d.) 

Vol.  X.  Letters  and  Papers  relating  to  the  War  with 
France,  1512-13.     Edited  by  M.  Alfred  Spont.      (10s.  6d.) 

Vol.  XI.  Papers  relating  to  the  Spanish  War,  15S5-87. 
Edited  by  Mr.  Julian  Corbett.     (ioj.  6d.) 

In  1898  :  Vol.  XII.  Journals  and  Letters  of  Admiral 
of  the  Fleet  Sir  Thomas  By  am  Martin,  1773-1S54  (Vol.  II_). 
Edited  by  Admiral  Sir  R.  Vesey  Hamilton.     (See  XX I V.) 


Vol.  XIII.  Papers  relating  to  the  First  Dutch  War. 
1652-54  (Vol.  I.).    Edited  by  Mr.  S.  R.  Gardiner,    (icw.  6d.) 

Vol.  XIV.  Papers  relatmg  to  the  Blockade  of  Brest, 
1803-5  (Vol.  I.).     Edited  by  Mr.  J.  Leyland.     (See  XXI.) 

In  1899  :  Vol.  XV.  History  of  the  Russian  Fleet  during 
the  Reign  of  Peter  the  Great.  By  a  Contemporary  English- 
wan.     Edited  by  Admiral  Sir  Cyprian  Bridge.     (10s.  6d.) 

Vol.  XVI.  Logs  of  the  Great  Sea  Fights,  1 794-1 805 
(Vol.  I.).  Edited  by  Vice-Admiral  SirT.  Sturges  Jackson. 
(See  XVIII.) 

Vol.  XVII.  Papers  relating  to  the  First  Dutch  War, 
1652-54  (Vol.  II.).  Edited  by  Mr.  S.  R.  Gardiner.  (\os.6d.) 

In  1 900:  Vol.  XVIII.  Logs  of  the  Great  Sea  Fights 
(Vol.  II.).     Edited  by  Sir  T.  S.  Jackson.     {Two  vols.  25 s.) 

Vol.  XIX.  fournals  and  Letters  of  Sir  T.  By  am 
Martin  (Vol.  III.).  Edited  by  Sir  R.  Vesey  Hamilton. 
(See  XXIV) 

In  1 90 1  :  Vol.  XX.  The  Naval  Miscellany  (Vol.  I.). 
Edited  by  the  Secretary.     (1 5^.) 

Vol.  XXI.  Papers  relating  to  the  Blockade  of  Brest, 
1803-5  (Vol.  II.).  Edited  by  Mr.  John  Leyland.  {Two 
vols.  25.$-.) 

In  1902  :  Vols.  XXII.  and  XXIII.  The  Naval  Tracts 
of  Sir  William  Monson  (Vols.  I.  and  II.).  Edited  by 
Mr.  M.  Oppenheim.     {Two  vols.  25^.) 

Vol.  XXIV.  fournals  and  Letters  of  Sir  T.  By  am 
Martin  (Vol.  I.).  Edited  by  Sir  R.  Vesey  Hamilton. 
{Three  vols.  ^\s.  6d.) 

In  1903  :  Vol.  XXV.  Nelson  and  the  Neapolitan 
Jacobins.     Edited  by  Mr.  H.  C.  Gutteridge.     (12s.  6d.) 

Vol.  XXVI.  A  Descriptive  Catalogue  of  the  Naval 
MSS.  in  the  Pepysian  Library  (Vol.  I.).  Edited  by  Mr. 
J.  R.  Tanner.     (15^.) 

In  1904  :  Vol.  XXVII.  A  Descriptive  Catalogue  of  the 
Naval  MSS.  in  the  Pepysian  Library  (Vol.  II.).  Edited 
by  Mr.  J.  R.  Tanner.     (\2s.  6d.) 


Vol.  XXVIII.  The  Correspondence  of  Admiral  John 
Markham,  1801-7.  Edited  by  Sir  Clements  R.  Markham. 
(I2J-.  6d.) 

In  1905:  Vol.  XXIX.  Fighting  Instructions,  1530- 
1816.     Edited  by  Mr.  Julian  Corbett.     (ioj.  6d.) 

Vol.  XXX.  Papers  relating  to  the  First  Dutch  War, 
1652-54  (Vol.  III.).  Edited  by  the  late  Dr.  S.  R.  Gardiner 
and  Mr.  C.  T.  Atkinson.     (12s.  6d.) 

In  1906:  Vol.  XXXI.  The  Recollections  of  Commander 
James  Anthony  Gardner,  1 77 5- 1 8 14.  Edited  by  Sir  R. 
Vesey  Hamilton  and  Professor  J.  K.  Laughton.    ( 12s.  6d.) 

Vol.  XXXII.  Letters  and  Papers  of  Charles,  Lord  liar- 
ham,  1758-1813  (Vol.  I.).  Edited  by  Sir  J.  K.  Laughton. 
{\2s.  6d.) 

In  1907  :  Vol.  XXXIII.  Naval  Ballads  and  Songs. 
Edited  by  Professor  C.  H.  Firth. 

To  follow  :  \riews  of  the  Battles  of  the  Third  Dutch 
War.     Edited  by  a  Committee  of  the  Council. 

The  volumes  for  the  current  year  (190S)  will  be 
Catalogue  of  the  Pepys  MSS.  (Vol.  III.),  edited  by 
Dr.  J.  R.  Tanner  ;  and  Addenda  to  the  Fighting  Instruc- 
tions, edited  by  Mr.  Julian  S.  Corbett. 

Other  works  in  preparation,  in  addition  to  further 
volumes  of  Sir  William  Monsoris  Tracts,  The  First  Dutch 
War,  The  Catalogue  of  the  Pepys  MSS..  The  Bar  ham 
Papers,  and  The  Naval  Miscellany,  are  The  Journal  of 
Captain  (afterwards  Sir  John)  Narhrough,  1672-75,  to  be 
edited  by  Sir  J.  K.  Laughton  ;  Official  Documents  illus- 
trating the  Social  Life  and  Internal  Discipline  of  the  A 
in  the  XVIIIth  Century,  to  be  edited  by  Sir  J.  K. 
Laughton;  and  Select  Correspondence  of  the  great  Fori  of 
Chatham  and  his  Sons,  t<>  be  edited  by  Sir  J.  K.  ton. 

Any  person  wishing  to  become  a  Member  of  the 
Society  is  requested  to  apply  to  the  Secretary  (Sir  J.  Knox 


Laughton,   9   Pepys   Road,   Wimbledon,  S.W.),  who  will 
submit  his  name  to  the  Council.    The  Annual  Subscription 
is  One  Guinea,  the  payment  of  which  entitles  the  Member 
to  receive  one  copy  of  all  works  issued  by  the  Society  for 
that  year.     The  publications  are  not  offered   for  general 
sale  ;    but    Members   can    obtain   a   complete  set  of  the 
volumes  at  the   rate  of  one  guinea  for   each   year      On 
first  joining  the   Society,  a   new  Member   may  obtain    a 
complete  set  at  the  reduced  price  of  12,.  6d.  for  each  year 
except  the  last  three,  for  which  the  full  price  of  one  guinea 
must   be   paid.       Single    volumes   can    be    obtained    by 
Members  at  the  prices  marked  to  each. 


Febrnaiy  1908. 


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